Celebrities

Kate Lawler reveals hidden illness that left her in unbearable pain and fighting to be heard

Published on June 24, 2025

Kate Lawler has opened up about a secret health battle that left her floored by crippling pain for years before finally getting answers. The former Big Brother winner and This Morning host shared how the agony began in 2017 and escalated into what she calls “the worst pain of my life”, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome.

Her ordeal peaked while she was on holiday in Greece, where the pain became so severe that she was rushed to hospital. Despite the terrifying episode, doctors at the time told her “everything was fine” and sent her on her way. But things were far from fine, reported the Daily Record.

After coming back to the UK, Kate was subjected to a string of tests and bounced between misdiagnoses, all the while grappling with intense discomfort. She described the pain in shocking detail: “The abdominal pain was worse than any pain I’ve ever had. It was crippling – sometimes too unbearable to even get out of bed – and it felt even worse during menstruation and sexual intercourse. It was a sharp, stabbing pain that would last from 10 seconds to several hours.”

Initially convinced she might have a hernia, Kate found herself increasingly frustrated as doctors seemed to dismiss her concerns. “They made me feel like I was going mad,” she said, as suggestions pointed toward hormone changes or ovulation being the culprit. Yet no explanation matched the relentless intensity of what she was experiencing.

After nearly five years of persistence, Kate finally got her answer in August 2022: pelvic congestion syndrome, a condition linked to blood flow issues in the pelvic veins. She soon underwent a treatment called pelvic vein embolisation, where tiny coils are placed into damaged veins under X-ray guidance. The relief was immediate and life-changing.

“I can’t explain how much I’ve improved and how I no longer feel crippled by this pain that would strike at any time,” she said, now using her platform to speak out for others who might be silently suffering. “No woman should suffer in silence.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, PCS can bring chronic pelvic pain, painful periods, discomfort during sex, and pain when standing or sitting too long. There’s no permanent cure, but treatments can manage the symptoms – and early diagnosis makes a huge difference.

The radio presenter and mum of one has been open with her followers throughout her health journey. In 2023, she revealed she was also navigating perimenopause and weighing up hormone replacement therapy. Sharing a candid Instagram post, she wrote: “Just a selfie of me earlier because you know, life/work/child/the news/housework/bla bla”, reported Lancs Live.

She continued, “Only sharing this because the last few days my Insta may have looked like all the fun but in all honesty, the majority of the days over the last week have been a lot and I’m due on so that probably doesn’t help. And I had a call from my GP after blood tests to tell me I’m perimenopausal and the offer of HRT just made me feel weird. Anyway, if your own mental load feels heavy right now, I see you and I’m sending you so much love.”

Kate’s bravery in sharing her experience has already struck a chord with many. Her story is a reminder of the strength it takes to fight for answers, especially when you know something’s wrong but no one seems to be listening.

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