Lori Harvey is used to being in the spotlight. Between her modeling career, her beauty brand SKN by LH, and her high-profile presence in the fashion world, the 28-year-old has built a name synonymous with style and confidence. But behind the flawless photos and polished appearances, Harvey was dealing with a health battle that left her frustrated, exhausted, and doubting herself.
On the September 16 episode of SheMD with Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney, Harvey revealed for the first time that she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis — conditions that went undiagnosed for years despite her constant search for answers.
“I’ve been so frustrated. I’ve been going to my gynecologist because I’ve just been feeling like something’s off in my body,” she said on the show. “But every time I go to her, she’s like, ‘You’re fine, you’re fine, you’re fine. Nothing’s wrong.’ And I was like, ‘But I don’t feel fine. I feel like something is just off.’”
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Years of Pain and No Answers
PCOS affects about one in 10 women of childbearing age, causing hormonal imbalances that can lead to irregular periods, acne, weight gain, facial hair, and even infertility. Endometriosis, on the other hand, happens when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of it, creating severe cramps and chronic pain.
Harvey shared that she had been experiencing symptoms of both since she was a teenager. “After my diagnoses, I realized I’d been dealing with them since I was 16 years old and never knew how severe they actually were because I wasn’t taken seriously,” she said.
Her weight fluctuated despite consistent workouts. Eating meals often left her feeling painfully bloated. And the skin issues hit hard. “I struggled with acne, rosacea and facial hair,” she recalled. “I was like, what’s happening? I’m like, okay, something is not adding up here. My body’s trying to tell me something, but I’m not getting the answers that I need.”
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Her periods were unbearable. “I used to have the most excruciating periods of my life, every single time I felt like I needed to go to the hospital, just crazy cramps,” she said. “I’m taking 800 milligrams of Ibuprofen. Nothing is working, it’s just debilitating. They’d be like, ‘Oh, just take some Tylenol, you’ll be fine.’ And I’m like, ‘There’s no way this is normal.’”
Finally Being Heard
Everything changed when Harvey was referred to Dr. Aliabadi, a Los Angeles-based OB-GYN known for treating reproductive disorders.
“[Aliabadi] told me, ‘Yeah, babe, you’re right. It was not normal and I’m so sorry that you’ve just been living with this.’ So she literally changed my life,” Harvey said.
Harvey started treatment with Metformin, a medication that helps regulate blood sugar and hormone levels. “It completely changed my life,” she said. “My hormones are leveled and I’m now able to eat and workout normally. I’m not gaining or losing weight at alarming rates. I feel good in my body finally for once. And I feel like what I should have been feeling like at 16. I’ve never felt more at home in my body than I do now.”
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Breaking the Silence
Harvey is determined to raise awareness — not just for herself, but for other women who suffer in silence.
“So many of my friends struggle with PCOS, and it’s something that none of us were educated on, and we all kind of were just suffering in silence because we didn’t know what it was,” she explained. “We’re just kind of all living with this thing and nobody’s getting treated for it.”
Aliabadi echoed her frustration on the podcast: “If you cannot get someone to listen to you and diagnose you correctly, do you think other women have a chance? They don’t.”
Harvey added, “As women, it’s so normalized for us to kind of just suffer in silence. And when you keep telling these doctors who are supposed to be there to help you, that you don’t feel right and something’s off and they keep telling you, you’re fine, it’s almost like you’re getting gaslit, you know? You start questioning yourself.”
“I think this is a very, very important conversation because so many of us are suffering with it, and we all need to be heard. Everybody should be able to feel at home in their body.”
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Health Tips for Black Women Living With PCOS and Endometriosis
Harvey’s story highlights the need for self-advocacy and awareness in women’s health, especially in the Black community, where reproductive concerns are often overlooked. Here are a few takeaways inspired by her journey:
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Speak up until you’re heard. Don’t let anyone minimize your pain. If your doctor isn’t listening, get a second opinion.
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Track your symptoms. Journaling your cycles, weight changes, acne flare-ups, or digestive issues can help reveal patterns.
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Don’t normalize extreme pain. Severe cramps and fatigue that interfere with daily life aren’t “just part of being a woman.”
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Learn from your community. Talk with friends, family, or support groups — Harvey only learned how common PCOS was after opening up.
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Explore treatment options. Lifestyle adjustments, medication, and specialist care can dramatically improve quality of life.
