Lauryn Goodman has spoken out on her shocking 10 year battle to be diagnosed with endometriosis.
The TV personality, 29, appeared on BBC News on Monday as she spoke about the trauma of the condition, which impacts one in 10 women and causes debilitating pain, very heavy periods and infertility.
She also referred to her son Junior, six months, as her ‘miracle baby’ as she was told she would not be able to welcome a child naturally.
Shocking: Lauryn Goodman, 29, appeared on BBC News on Monday as she spoke out out on her shocking 10 year battle to be diagnosed with endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that usually forms in the womb’s lining each month appears elsewhere — such as the pelvic area and stomach, the chest, spine and even the brain.
And just like the lining of the womb, this endometrial tissue, fed by oestrogen, swells and bleeds each month.
However, there is nowhere for this blood to go, so it can cause inflammation that leads to a build-up of scar tissue that typically gets worse over time.
Sweet: She also referred to her son Junior, six months, as her ‘miracle baby’ as she was told she would not be able to welcome a child naturally
Asked by Victoria Derbyshire why she thinks it took 10 years to get a diagnosis, Lauryn mused: ‘I was in and out of my GP’s surgery all the time.
‘They kept saying “go on the pill, or we’ll check your bloods and hormones”. It was always, “oh no you’re fine”. But you know you’re not fine.
‘It’s really hard having to listen to someone who clearly doesn’t know anything about this condition trying to tell you that you don’t have it.
‘I went privately in the end but not everyone is as fortunate as me to go private, it’s expensive.’
Ouch: Lauryn spoke about the trauma of the condition, which impacts one in 10 women and causes debilitating pain, very heavy periods and infertility
Discussing how her treatment then progressed, Lauryn recalled: ‘I had two laparoscopy [keyhole surgery] over the course of three years then I had an induced menopause.
‘That was awful. Hot and cold sweats, you’re going through what women go through in their 50s, 60s. It’s awful. Your hormones are all over the place, they’re raging!’
Explaining that she was then shocked to discover she was pregnant, she continued: ‘I came off that, hadn’t started my periods again and I fell pregnant, with my little miracle baby!’
Lauryn concluded: ‘Way more funding needs to go into research and charities. We have to undergo surgery to get diagnosed, that’s mental.
‘For 10 years it hasn’t changed, it’s disgusting.’
Lauryn welcomed son Junior with former flame, and England footballer, Kyle Walker in April.
The campaigner previously revealed she had no idea she was in labour with her baby because having endometriosis meant she was already so used to regular pain.
Shocking: Asked by Victoria Derbyshire why she thinks it took 10 years to get a diagnosis, Lauryn mused, ‘I was in and out of my GP’s surgery all the time’
The media personality took to Instagram in June to gush over her son, telling of her experience giving birth.
Alongside a sweet snap of her cradling the tot, Lauryn wrote: ‘I couldn’t love anything more if I tried. The faces you pull & the smiles you make melt my heart. You are showing me your little personality and you are so amazing already. ✨
‘We have gotten to know each other better over the weeks which has made things slightly easier. At first it was trial and error but now we’ve figured it out a bit more. ✨
‘You make me a better person every day. You are just so innocently cute and I can’t believe you’re mine. My Ickle bestie. Feels like yesterday my contractions started and I was closer to meeting you. ✨’
Labour pains: The campaigner previously revealed she had no idea she was in labour with her baby because having endometriosis meant she was already so used to regular pain
She went on: ‘For anyone that has endometriosis and is pregnant. Honestly the fact you feel those pains month in month out when you have a period, made my contractions easier to deal with. I didn’t feel any of my early contractions at all, I didn’t even know I was in early labour or active labour.
‘I started to feel them when I was 6cm dilated. I thought I was going to go into hospital with contractions and they would send me home but it didn’t quite go like that – I was shocked when they said “6cm & loads of wet black curly hair, off to labour ward”.
‘Genuinely for anyone that doesn’t understand endo pain = labour contractions! Imagine those pains every month of your life whilst having a period. ✨’
She also added that she has teamed up with Love Crystal Healing Life ‘to release the fertility, pregnancy and childbirth bracelet and also other meaningful crystal bracelets’.
Lauryn has since come under fire from a fertility expert, who slammed the sale of the bracelets as ‘taking advantage’ of people desperate to become parents.