Gemma Collins sobs as she reveals she terminated ‘intersex’ baby

The Only Way is Essex star Gemma Collins has said on a podcast that she was once told to terminate a pregnancy after having learned that her unborn baby was ‘intersex’

Gemma Collins broke down in tears as she revealed she was advised to terminate a pregnancy after being told the unborn baby was ‘intersex’.

The reality TV star, 43 – who rose to fame on the Only Way is Essex – has previously spoken about her heartbreaking experience of trying to become a mother. During a candid interview on the Everything I Know About Me podcast, Gemma discussed having once terminated a pregnancy.

The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate recalled discovering that she was pregnant some years ago. She said on the latest episode of the podcast: “They said to me ‘something’s not right’.” Gemma later added: “They said to me ‘oh your baby could be, from looking at it, [intersex]’.

She further commented: “You can imagine I didn’t know what the word was. I had to look it up. I’d never been taught about [being intersex]. So that was a real shock.” Gemma went on to say that there were concerns for the baby at the time, adding: “Then they advised me ‘you need to have a termination’.”

Gemma Collins has spoken about having terminated a pregnancy some years ago on a new podcast (Image: Getty)

According to the NHS, ‘intersex’ is term preferred by some for ‘differences in sex development’ (DSD). It states: “[DSD] is a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs, including genitals. It means a person’s sex development is different to most other people’s.” The NHS adds that there are “many different types” and states: “Many forms of DSD do not require any medical care other than understanding the baby’s development and knowing what to expect as they grow older.”

Gemma, who said that the pregnancy came at an already challenging time in her life, said that it was “very sad” but was “just not meant to be”.

As previously reported, the former TOWIE cast member is said to have had her first miscarriage in 2012 and says she did not realise she was pregnant until she lost her baby at home. She had a second and third miscarriage in 2020. Gemma has previously spoken about struggles with fertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Gemma became tearful reflecting on one loss, saying: “In a single instant, I learned that I’d been carrying a baby and lost it, meaning that once again I found my longstanding dreams of motherhood shattered into pieces.”