Zara Holland is battling with endometriosis.
The ‘Love Island’ star – who was known as Miss Great Britain until her crown was swiped away from her because she had sex on television – has revealed she’s been diagnosed with the common chronic condition, which is when the tissue normally lining the womb is found on organs outside the uterus, and is desperate to raise awareness.
The blonde bombshell told OK! Online: "I was diagnosed by having a laparoscopy three years ago, they lasered off the endometriosis and fitted the Mirena coil to help stop the growth. Living with endometriosis is terrible. My first Mirena embedded isn’t self in my womb, second time it rejected it after six months, now its third time lucky!
"I have had heavy bleeding, I’ve had have to take time off work, I wouldn’t eat, painful sex and so tired. Endometriosis can effect fertility too, which really really scares me.
"I had a scan last week and everything’s ok, coil is in the right place but I have abrasions (scar tissue) on my right ovary which can be very painful at times. I am ovulating too so all good for now!"
Endometriosis is estimated to affect around 2 million women in the UK – with most patients being diagnosed between the age of 25 and 30 – and can be a debilitating.
The most common symptoms, according to the NHS, include; painful periods or heavy periods, pain in the lower abdomen pelvis or lower back, pain during and after sex, bleeding between periods and difficulty getting pregnant.
It’s not fully understood what causes the condition but there are treatments available that can ease the ease symptoms so the condition doesn’t interfere with daily life.
The 21-year-old beauty shot to fame in 2015 when she became Miss Great Britain which, in turn, led to her securing a place on ‘Love Island’ in the summer of 2016.
However, she hit the headlines when she was stripped off the title and the crown was passed on to runner-up Deone Robertson because she got frisky on screen.
Zara Holland suffers with endometriosis
