A woman whose endometriosis sent her into menopause at the age of 27 has defied odds to fall pregnant despite losing her left ovary and both her fallopian tubes.
Fashion designer Thessy Kouzoukas, from Brisbane, has announced she’s expecting her first baby with her fiancé Georgio Batsinilas.
The now 28-year-old fashion designer previously struggled with fertility after undergoing a gruelling surgery to remove a 14 centimetre cyst in her left ovary in late 2017.
The co-owner of Sabo Skirt also had to remove her left ovary and both her fallopian tubes after they were ravaged by the debilitating Stage 4 endometriosis.
Thessy Kouzoukas (left) whose endometriosis sent her into menopause at the age of 27 has defied odds to fall pregnant despite losing her left ovary and both her fallopian tubes
She announced she’s expecting her first baby with her fiancé Georgio Batsinilas (pictured)
Thessy defied odds to fall pregnant after she turned to turned to IVF in a last ditch attempt
‘When I woke up from my surgery and heard I no longer had one of my ovaries or either of my fallopian tubes I couldn’t help but think that was it,’ she recalled.
‘I will never be able to naturally conceive and I may never be a mum.’
Endometriosis prevents women from falling pregnant because the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus causing extremely painful periods, fertility issues and loss of organs.
As she struggled to have her own baby, the stylish businesswoman underwent two rounds of IVF in a last-ditch attempt to conceive naturally.
‘The worst time of my life, my cyst kept rupturing. My endo had damaged my fallopian tubes so IVF pretty much was my only option,’ Thessy said.
‘Georgio was so supportive and always kept me a place of positive thinking no matter how hard things got.
‘IVF wasn’t the most amazing experience and definitely had its ups and downs, including bloating, weight gain and hormonal acne to name a few.
‘But I am so glad that we decided to stick to it because I have never wanted anything more than being a mum.’
Last year, Thessy shared a composite photo of her naked stomach with a bulge and one without – the medication to treat her endometriosis sent her into menopause at the age of 27
The fashion designer previously struggled with fertility after undergoing a gruelling surgery to remove a 14 centimetre cyst in her left ovary in late 2017
As she struggled to have her own baby, the stylish businesswoman underwent two rounds of IVF in a desperate attempt to become a mother
Thessy said she found strength through her business partner Yiota Kouzoukas, who miraculously gave birth to her first baby earlier this year despite also suffering from endometriosis.
‘When something significant in life gets you down it is so easy to just give up,’ Thessy said.
‘There is no point just saying I have a problem, this bad thing is happening to me, if you are not going to do anything about it.
‘I like to encourage all the other #endowarriors out there to try and work towards solutions with this disease, and now my baby is going to be proof that things are possible if you positively work towards a change.’
Thessy – who has been documenting her battle with endometriosis on Instagram – is now in her second trimester with her baby due in September.
Her partner Georgio added: ‘You really need to understand that endo is not the end of the world.’
The now-28-year-old woman is now in her second trimester with her baby due in September
Her baby announcement comes after she revealed a medication she was on ‘stopped all my hormones and sent me into menopause at the age of 27’
Earlier this year, her sister-in-law Yiota (right) welcomed her baby boy named Connor after struggling to conceive due to complications from endometriosis
Her baby announcement comes after she revealed a medication she was on ‘stopped all my hormones and sent me into menopause at the age of 27.’
She shared a composite photograph of her naked stomach with a bulge and one without on her Instagram.
‘This is quite shocking to people. This is me. This is endometriosis,’ Thessy said.
‘I never intended to share these photos hence why I’m naked, but my god I can’t believe the amount of DMs I’ve received from girls who have endo too and feel alone.
‘The left is my stomach three weeks after a ruptured cyst. The right is me now, on a drug called “synarel” that has stopped all my hormones and sent me into menopause at the age of 27.
‘Please, spread the word about endo. And If you know anyone with bad period pain please tell them to get checked for this. And to my girls with endo. You’re not alone.’
Earlier this year, her sister-in-law Yiota welcomed her baby boy named Connor after struggling to conceive due to complications from endometriosis.