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Strictly Come Dancing contestant Vicky Pattison , who is currently partnered with professional dancer Kai Widdrington on the beloved BBC programme, has called for improved support for women experiencing reproductive health difficulties following a conversation with Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Speaking on Good Morning Britain on 28 October, Vicky revealed that during a meeting with the Health Secretary the previous day, she raised this vital issue, stating: "I said it needs better funding. We need to close that gender gap completely in terms of female reproductive health. "The things they are struggling with are different, different female reproductive health issues, but the one common thread is that when they go and visit the NHS , a doctor, whatever, they are ignored, dismissed, in some way made to feel like this is in their head, they are hysterical, and that is the medical misogyny that we're trying to tackle." READ MORE: Chilling motive of husband who stabbed wife to death then claimed she took own life revealed READ MORE: Drug-driver caught rolling up spliff as he travelled on M6 in Birmingham This marks another chapter in Vicky's ongoing advocacy work, as championing women's health remains close to the 2015 I'm a Celebrity champion's heart - especially considering her own personal battles with various challenging conditions, reports the Mirror . Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Diagnosis The Honesty Box host received a devastating diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in 2023 - a debilitating condition that leaves her physically and emotionally drained each month. The NHS defines PMDD as an intense variant of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), with comparable yet far more severe manifestations, encompassing headaches, muscular and joint discomfort, disrupted sleep patterns, compulsive overeating, rage, anxiousness, low mood, and potentially thoughts of self-harm. In a candid interview with Heat magazine, the Celebrity Masterchef 2019 finalist disclosed her struggle with PMDD, explaining how medical practitioners originally dismissed her concerns, maintaining there was "nothing wrong". She said: "I spent the best part of the last 10 years thinking I was descending into madness, being told by doctors there was nothing wrong with me. They were insinuating that I was just weak and dramatic." Previously, through an emotional Instagram update featuring herself with puffy eyes, the Ex on the Beach personality had addressed her diagnosis, sharing candidly: "There are a few things that exacerbate my anxiety. When I'm tired, overworked and just not looking after myself properly I don't feel as though I have the energy to fight off the intrusive dark thoughts. I also just feel like I'm more susceptible to that negative self-talk when I'm low and burnt out." Strictly Come Dancing and anxiety Prior to Strictly Come Dancing's launch, Vicky revealed her concerns about getting stuck inside her 'own head' and placing unrealistic pressure on herself to achieve perfect scores. In conversation with Mail Online, Vicky confessed: "I'm feeling a lot of anxiety about Strictly. I know I should just be excited to be considered for shows like this – I didn't feel anything like this when I went in the [ I'm A Celebrity ] jungle." She continued: "Maybe it's a bit of imposter syndrome, maybe it's working-class feelings of being undeserving. Maybe it's deep-rooted self-doubt." The Strictly Come Dancing contestant, who was merely 22 when she shot to fame on MTV's Geordie Shore, actually broke down in tears at a press event ahead of the opening episode. "I thought I was doing an alright job of hiding it but obviously I'm not," she explained. "I'm just out of my comfort zone and it's really scary when you're out of your comfort zone and I am a bit overwhelmed." Following this, Vicky has spoken openly about her battle with PMDD, and how incredibly understanding Strictly has been whilst she pushed through training sessions, explaining: "It [PMDD] affects me in the 10 days before my period. That is panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, exhaustion and in some moments, there can be suicidal thoughts. Like every woman dealing with it, I'm just riding the wave." She continued: "There are moments I can be OK and be the bright, shiny version of myself that everyone expects, and then there are moments where I'm debilitated by it. Now, everything feels heightened and stressful. I've been burying my head in the sand a little bit saying it's ages away, but it's not. I'm learning as I go. Strictly take things into consideration." Egg Freezing Journey. At 35, Vicky made the decision to freeze her eggs - a choice she took before marrying her partner Ercan Ramadan in 2024. The television personality has openly documented her experience on social media and appeared in the BBC documentary 'Egg Freezing And Me'. During an earlier appearance on Good Morning Britain, Vicky discussed her motivations for egg freezing, saying: "I will be 37 this year and the harsh reality of a woman being over 35 is that your eggs are described as geriatric, which tastes really painful coming out of mouth but it's the medical term." Vicky has admitted she's never experienced strong maternal instincts, having prioritised her professional life. She previously shared on Loose Women, where she served as a panellist until 2017, that she kept anticipating a "burning desire to have children, but it never really came". As time passed, the reality star began to worry that she might suddenly feel a maternal urge at an age when natural pregnancy would no longer be possible. This led her to consider egg freezing. At 35, three of Vicky's eggs were fertilised with Ercan's sperm to create embryos, which doctors told her had a 20% chance of resulting in a baby, according to Wales Online. She also chose to freeze three unfertilised eggs, which carry a 10% chance of success. The reality star stated: "I have been hurt before and it would be foolhardy to not have a back-up plan so I decided to keep some to myself. I'm safeguarding my future happiness." In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Vicky candidly discussed how alcohol had once completely taken over her life. She confessed to consuming 10 drinks daily, expressing regret for the person she had become. She revealed to the publication: "I drank pretty much every day. I would have about ten drinks a day. Wine, spirits, anything really. I begged for days off work. Then I'd feel even lonelier and drink more." Vicky expressed her determination not to follow in the footsteps of her father John, who has struggled with addiction and repeatedly entered rehab. She continued: "I was convinced that people would realise I wasn't anything special and it would all be taken away and I was turning up late for jobs. I don't think I ever turned up drunk, I always slept, but I was not in a fit state to work." Vicky revealed that appearing on chat shows requires you to be "witty and warm, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed - not still shaking off the lethargy of five gin and tonics." She confessed: "I hated myself back then. I work very hard not to become that person." Battles with food. Vicky has also spoken openly about her previous battles with "disordered eating". In an emotional Instagram post from 2024, Vicky told her followers: "I used to be cruel to the girl in the first photo... I let her eat what she wanted but I constantly berated her. Called her names and made her worthless. Just because of a number on a scale." She added: "I was cruel to the girl in the second photo as well but in an entirely different way. I would count how many blueberries I put on my porridge, restrict my calories and weaponise exercise. That girl was a nervous wreck". Vicky acknowledged she was "unhappy" during those times, wrestling with "anxiety", "disordered eating", and "low self-worth".
