TOWIE star Chloe Brockett has revealed her life-changing diagnosis after years of suffering excruciating pain.
The TV favourite, 22, said she recently found out that she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can cause irregular periods, facial hair and other symptoms.
The Essex beauty explained that she’s been experiencing “horrific” menstrual cycles since she was 13-years-old and was put on the contraceptive pill.
Chloe told fans: “When I posted about my polycystic ovary diagnosis, I got so many suggestions about what they would do and what helped them.
“I also got some questions from girls asking what my symptoms were and how I went about getting scans.
“So my symptoms for me was I always had quite bad periods, they were really heavy, even when I was younger I would miss days off school for them because I would be exhausted and in so much pain, it really affected me.
“I remember going to the doctors when I was around 13 and they suggested I go on the contraceptive pill, so I did.
“I wasn’t sleeping with anyone, I was 13, it was unnecessary to be putting all those hormones in my body but to be honest they did mask the symptoms and make my periods regular and made life easier for me.”
Chloe – who appeared on E4 dating show Celebs Go Dating – said she noticed sudden weight gain and was concerned it could be linked to the pill.
“So fast forward to last year, I ran out of my pill and I noticed that I had gained a lot of weight when I was filming Celebs Go Dating and for me I’m always a consistent weight, I’m always the same size and shape,” the telly star said.
She decided to stop taking the contraceptive pill but admitted that she instantly “regretted it” as her periods returned more aggressively again.
“My periods returned to the way when I was younger, it was horrific and they still are,” Chloe continued.
“The symptoms and all of the bad side effects, my periods were still there, it had just been masked for 10 years because I’d been taking the contraceptive pill.
“I’m glad I’m off it now as I don’t want to put those hormones in my body but now I’m stuck with the bad side of polycystic ovaries.
“The periods are absolutely awful, I’m exhausted and I get facial hair, like peach fuzz on my face.”
Chloe explained that she contacted her GP and was referred for scans and was told that her ovaries were “polycystic”.
She added: “The peach fuzz on my face doesn’t bother me, but what does bother me is the horrific periods.”
Chloe said she’s opted to not go back on the pill, saying she wanted to take a break after a decade of relying on it.
It comes after Chloe reunited with her fellow co-stars as they filmed for the new series.
She beamed next to Saffron Lempriere after their bitter on-screen feud was finally resolved last season.
The pair had a heated on-screen clash in 2020 over Chloe flirting with ex Harry Lee. Further rows were aired and Chloe even threw an umbrella at her co-star in ugly scenes.
But last year Chloe arrived on Saffron’s doorstep with a fish and chips peace offering.
Emotional Chloe broke down in tears telling Saffron how good she had been to her in the past.
