LOOSE Women star Dame Kelly Holmes has sparked health concerns after revealing she received unexpected news during a hospital visit.
Kelly, 54, took to her Instagram Stories yesterday to share that she had seen a gynaecologist but didn’t get the outcome she had hoped for.
Kelly said she received unexpected news during a hospital visit[/caption]
Posting a cryptic update, Kelly wrote: “What a day! When you go to see a gynaecologist and it’s not exactly what you want to hear.
“More to come but only when I have the outcome All I can say is I am glad for casual chat with @dr_naomipotter.”
She penned the caption alongside a video of herself walking down the street wearing a baseball cap.
The athlete-turned-TV-star has been open about her health struggles in the past, previously discussing her battles with perimenopause and mental health.
In 2023, Kelly said symptoms of the perimenopause “are killing me”.
The Olympic champ told how she suffers constant pain, aches and night sweats from the bodily transition.
Kelly, who won two running golds at the 2004 Athens Games, added: “As much as I’m in denial, it has had an effect on my body.”
She said her symptoms include “body aches, constant pain throughout the body, feeling lethargic”.
Kelly said it is tough “as someone who is in tune with their body”, adding: “I think I’m in denial of age completely.”
Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause as women’s hormone levels change, but before periods have stopped.
It usually starts between 45 and 55, the NHS says.
Kelly exercises to cope but says sometimes she is “too knackered”.
Mental health is less often discussed when it comes to perimenopause and menopause.
But Kelly said: “The one thing with the hormonal changes – and men get it as well at certain ages – hormonal changes in the body can really affect your mental health.
“And I think women have to understand how so connected and interconnected your mental and physical health are, because if one is not in tune, the other one will be affected, whatever way around that is.
“When you feel your body’s a mess, that’s going to affect your head.
“But if you go into the gym or you go and do some exercises, at least you are doing it knowing that you’re benefiting yourself by doing it – even if those changes are still happening.”
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause means “around menopause”.
It refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, thus marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years.
A woman may begin transitioning sometime in her 40s. However, this transitional period happens at a different age for every woman, and it could happen as early as mid-30s
Throughout the menopausal transition, some subtle — and some not-so-subtle — changes in your body may take place. You might experience:
- Irregular periods.
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Mood changes
- urinary infections
- vaginal infections
- changes in sexual arousal
- Changing cholesterol levels
