Candid Queensland premier opens up on losing a baby 11 weeks into her pregnancy - and why it's 'almost impossible' for her to find love again after her marriage ended
- The state Labor leader said her busy schedule made looking for love impossible
- She spoke candidly about her battle with endometriosis and miscarriage
- She hopes by speaking out other women will listen to their bodies more often
Queensland's premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confessed her personal life has fallen to the wayside as a result of her pursuing her political career.
The state Labor Leader said her busy schedule made looking for love near impossible, but that she isn't ruling anything out.
Palaszczuk has previously spoken about her desire to start a family, but suffers from endometriosis, a debilitating condition which can impact fertility and a female's reproductive organs.
It is currently estimated to affect one in 10 Australian women.
As she approaches her 50th birthday, the premier told the Gold Coast Bulletin of her IVF struggles, and opened up about losing a child at 11 weeks gestation.
Queensland's premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confessed her personal life has fallen to the wayside as a result of her political ambitions
Her endometriosis was picked up by her medical team after her miscarriage with then husband Simon Every.
Palaszczuk said up until her diagnosis, she thought her symptoms, including painful cramps, exhaustion and headaches, were standard grievances.
An explorative laparoscopy to determine her condition - the only way to diagnose endometriosis - confirmed she was suffering a severe case of the illness.
'When I was going through severe symptoms in my mid to late 30s, it was a case of not being able to play sport, not being able to go on long walks, not being able to do a lot of physical activity because it would completely drain me,' she previously told The Courier Mail.
'A lot of times, women don't know why they can't have a child. It puts a lot of pressure on them and a lot of pressure on the family as well.'
She and her husband went through four rounds of IVF treatment, but Ms Palaszczuk never fell pregnant.
Despite her divorce and recent separation from one-time Labor staffer Shaun Drabsch, the Premier remains hopeful she'll find love again - when the time is right.
'It's simply not true that we all need a partner to be fulfilled. It's lovely when it's the right person of course, but it is very possible to be single and very happy.'
But she said dating is 'near impossible' with her current schedule as the head of the sunshine state.
The state Labor Leader said her busy schedule made looking for love near impossible, but that she isn't ruling anything out
'Well it's almost impossible really. If the right person came along, I would be open to it.
'A couple of months ago I did meet someone who I thought was quite nice and he seemed to think I was also, so he asked if we could perhaps catch up and I had to look in my diary and say "maybe in about three weeks".'
Palaszczuk has previously said she hopes her story will inspire other women to listen to their bodies and trust their intuition.
'There are probably thousands of women out there at this very moment who don’t know that they have it and that they can actually take some action,' she said.
Share this article
Endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body.
It is estimated that more than 700,000 (or one in 10) Australian women, girls and other individuals are currently living with endometriosis.
The delay between symptoms occurring and diagnosis is generally between seven and 12 years, primarily due to a misconception regarding symptoms and menstrual health.
Symptoms include pain, heavy periods and fatigue, as well as a higher risk of infertility, and bowel and bladder problems.
Its cause is unknown but may be genetic, related to problems with the immune system or exposure to chemicals.
The condition is incurable, and while some women will find relief from the painful symptoms after excision of the disease, the likelihood of it returning within five years is between 40 and 50 per cent.
Palaszczuk has previously spoken about her desire to start a family, but suffers from endometriosis, a debilitating condition which can impact fertility and a female's reproductive organs
