Loose Women: Shirley Ballas discusses bladder leakage
Strictly Come Dancing's head judge, Shirley Ballas, has bravely revealed her secret health struggle that she has been battling for years. The 64-year-old joined the Loose Women panel on Monday (November 18) and candidly discussed her ongoing battle with bladder leaks, which have led to her avoiding drinking while in the studio.
Shirley has now become an ambassador for a campaign promoting pelvic floor exercises and encouraging women to seek help when experiencing leaks, after being advised not to discuss the issue in her younger years, reports the Mirror.
Christine Lampard, the host of Loose Women, introduced the topic by saying: "Here on Loose Women, we never shy away from taboo topics, so today we are marking bladder health month and discussing bladder leaks."
Shirley, eager to share her personal experience, explained: "I feel like bladder leaks are a bit of a taboo subject that no one wants to talk about. I think it is important for women to do their pelvic floor exercises and understand it should be a part of our daily routine."
"Being a dancer, I do them all the time; I have learned how to do them. But when I was giving birth, and I was pregnant, particularly during menopause, I struggled with that, bladder leaks."
Shirley continued: "I talked to my mum about it, and my mother's generation, it is a taboo subject; she doesn't want to talk about it. In fact, when she knew I was coming this morning, I hope you're watching, mother, she was like, 'Oh dear, you can't talk about that!'"
Shirley said: "But I think it is a subject heading and when you have a job on the TV, if you have a platform and you can help the ladies out, then for me its extremely important."
Christine added: "What is interesting is that we see you and what you do in such a physical job, and you wouldn't have assumed this was something you were quietly having to battle behind the scenes. It's something you have to think about; it changes the way you work potentially."
Shirley responded: "Well, it does. I don't drink fluids. I don't drink water at all if I'm travelling or I'm in the studio. But I think most women, if you sneeze, for example, if you laugh, particularly at 64 years of age, and now I'm noticing it even more.
"I thought let me do this subject heading, let me get everybody engaged with doing their pelvic floor and understanding that it's extremely important we talk about, share and don't suffer in silence."
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
