Gemma Collins has shared some positive news about her health journey.
The star who shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex has claimed she's managed to tackle her Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) head-on. Gemma, 43, stated she had been working closely with a dietician and following their advice in the hopes of becoming a mum for the first time.
PCOS means women often have irregular periods as their ovaries do not regularly release eggs, and they have high levels of androgen, a male hormone in their body, as well as enlarged ovaries often with fluid-filled sacs around the eggs. While the exact cause of the condition is unknown, the NHS states it is related to an abnormal amount of insulin in the body.
While there is no cure for the condition, it is believed that most women who suffer from PCOS are able to get pregnant, with the help of medical treatment. Speaking to MailOnline, Gemma said: "Since working with Steve, he has reversed my PCOS. I no longer have it, so I'm a step closer to having a baby. Engaged to Rami Hawash, Gemma is buzzing with hope for the future, especially when it comes to starting a family.
Having faced the heartache of three miscarriages in the past, the star opened up about her renewed optimism, telling the outlet: "I went to a fertility clinic and obviously, I was going to start my fertility journey in September but I'm not sure I need to do fertility now because hopefully I can do it naturally, plus my thyroid is doing better - I have no under-active thyroid anymore."
Amy Childs prepared to get cruelly mum-shamed after big decision about her twinsDespite being targeted by trolls over her weight, Gemma has remained resilient and active. She expressed her relief at finding a diet that focuses on what you can eat rather than what you can't: "People have bullied me about my weight, they bullied me about it so badly for years and it's like, I can't help it, I am active ... But now I don't need to do vigorous exercise - this is the first diet where you're adding and not subtracting."
Diagnosed with PCOS at 28, which can impact ovarian function, Gemma has found a glimmer of hope thanks to her dietary changes, and her dietician Steve Bennett is confident that this new approach will be life-altering for her. He revealed: "With PCOS, the number one cause is a dysregulation of sugar and putting fibre first helps Gemma to regulate the sugar intake and therefore that would be the logical step to removing PCOS."