Jess Impiazzi has revealed her heartbreak to learn that she is going through early menopause, but said she still wants children.
The Ex on the Beach star, 34, admitted she was devastated and cried for three days after being told she had little chance of having children.
She explained that her symptoms were initially written off as stress three years ago, before she was privately diagnosed with premature menopause.
Menopause occurs between the ages of 44 and 55 when a woman stops having periods and can no longer get pregnant naturally but 1 in 100 women may experience it before the age of 40.
Speaking about her devastating diagnosis, Jess said she is still hoping to have children with Jermaine, 40, and that they are trying to start a family through IVF.
Devastating news: Jess Impiazzi has revealed her heartbreak to learn that she is going through early menopause, but said she still wants children.
She said Sun: ‘I’ve always wanted a family, so to be told that the chances of having my own children are slim is heartbreaking.
“We had talked about children, but we haven’t even been together for two years and we assumed we had more time.”
Jess went on to reference her ‘hard times’, in which Jermaine was diagnosed with ADHD just before Christmas, while also filing for bankruptcy earlier this year.
Jess admitted that they hadn’t planned on being in a relationship this early in their relationship, but Jermaine insisted that he plans to stand by and support his partner.
The former footballer, who began dating Jess in September 2021, said: “I understand how much you want to have a family, time is of the essence so all I can do is be your support and do everything I can to make the journey may be possible”. .’
Speaking about her diagnosis, Jess admitted she was ‘let down’ by doctors after they attributed her symptoms to stress from multiple appointments over three years.
Jess explained that at the age of 30 she began missing periods, suffered heavy and irregular bleeding, experienced fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety.
She said she would have been able to freeze her eggs if she had known sooner, and shared her upset that the option was “taken away” from her.
Plans: Speaking about her devastating diagnosis, Jess said she still hopes to have children with Jermaine, 40, and said they are trying to start a family through IVF treatment.
Health: Jess explained that her symptoms were initially written off as stress three years ago, before she was privately diagnosed with premature menopause.
After going to a private clinic specializing in fertility and hormonal problems, Jess said she was diagnosed with endometriosis in her intestines and primary ovarian failure, which often leads to infertility.
Jess admitted that she was worried about telling Jermaine that they should try to have a family right after his diagnosis, saying they hadn’t planned on doing so for a few years.
The couple have now decided to try IVF treatment and are currently awaiting initial test results with Jess saying she will not be able to have multiple biological children.
Jess, who was previously married to rugby player Denny Solomona, and Jermaine began dating in November 2021.
It comes after a difficult time for the couple after Jermaine revealed he felt like a “lunatic” for making destructive decisions before being diagnosed with ADHD.
In January, he appeared on Friday’s Good Morning Britain to discuss his “life-changing” diagnosis, admitting it helped him make sense of his past decisions.
While he insisted he couldn’t “excuse himself” for his behavior, he shared his sadness at not being diagnosed until now because it would have made his relationships, work and life easier, noting that he is now “happier than ever.” .
ADHD is a behavioral condition defined by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Speaking about his diagnosis, Jermaine said: ‘It’s life-changing because I’ve asked myself so many questions over the years. “Why do I leave destruction in my path?” Or “how have I gotten myself into certain situations?”
“I just thought it was because he was a lunatic or just not well and had serious problems, but I couldn’t really put my finger on what they were.”
‘I was going round and round in circles, making the same mistakes and saying to myself ‘I know I’m not a bad person, but why am I doing this?’
He went on to explain that he believed his “troubled childhood” was to blame for developing the condition.
Separately, Jermaine filed for bankruptcy after racking up debts of more than £1 million, according to reports.
The Birmingham County Court has reportedly issued a one-year bankruptcy order to the former Premier League star, who owes money to creditors including HMRC, councils, banks and utility companies.
The 39-year-old Jermaine Pennant Ltd’s media company, which was set up after his TV appearances on shows like Celebrity Big Brother, dissolved in 2020.
The former midfielder was understood to have defaulted on his mortgage payments.
A source close to Pennant said Sun: ‘He owes stacks of cash all over the place.
Hardships: Jess went on to reference her “hard times,” in which Jermaine was diagnosed with ADHD just before Christmas, while also filing for bankruptcy earlier this year
Setback: Jermaine recently shared his sadness at not being diagnosed with ADHD sooner because it would have made his relationships and work easier (pictured playing for Stoke in 2011)
His debts run into seven figures. His debts with the treasury and banks are enormous. He has defaulted on his mortgage payments and is likely to have his property repossessed.
Jess recently opened up about how her relationship with Jermaine has been strengthened by their shared trauma.
She recounted how Jermaine’s difficult past coupled with her own tough childhood has brought them closer.
speaking to Sun, she said: ‘When two people have been through something traumatic, it can be toxic or healing. Luckily, we have been what heals each other.