Gemma Collins has reached out to her followers for support after revealing her struggles with the perimenopause. The I'm A Celebrity: South Africa personality took to social media to discuss her memory difficulties, confessing she is becoming more absent-minded as the condition progresses.
Perimenopause Symptoms Take a Toll
In an Instagram post, Gemma vented: "PERI MENOPAUSE SUCKS !!!!! I've lost two sets of car keys in one week and I do not know for the life of me where I put them... I can't remember nothing it's bizarre! And it's like an out of body experience my mind is normally very sharp! Is there any help for this and can someone who's got the witchy powers please help me find my keys!" She urged her supporters to "send help," saying she was "having a moment." Followers suggested Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or exercise as potential solutions. Ex-Real Housewives Of Cheshire personality Tanya Bardsley shared similar experiences, writing: "I feel ya hunny."
Perimenopause marks the transitional period leading up to menopause, during which ovaries produce reduced oestrogen levels. It typically starts in women's forties, with symptoms including erratic periods, hot flushes, and night sweats. Official NHS guidance notes that problems with memory or concentration are common. An insider close to the former TOWIE star revealed: "Gemma is quite emotional at the minute. She keeps herself very busy with work, but the perimenopause is something that is troubling her. She's losing her keys, her memory, she's up and down with her emotions... it seems to have hit her quite hard. Some people suffer badly with perimenopausal symptoms and she's one of them."
Gemma's Ongoing Health Journey
The celebrity first spoke about perimenopause struggles last November, informing followers she had been feeling "a bit off lately" and encouraging women to pay attention to their bodies. The Essex-based star, who also lives with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), explained: "I've been getting the most weirdest symptoms – itchy ears, feeling a little bit more tired than usual. I was just like, I feel like there's something not right with my hormones. I'm 44 now, and it's no secret that perimenopause can creep up on you at any time, and I've just been a bit worried about it." Beyond forgetfulness, Gemma has discussed other peculiar effects, such as irritation from fiancé Rami Hawash's eating or breathing sounds. She revealed: "My partner knows when to stop chewing so I don't kick off. It irritates the hell out of me." She has also experienced low libido and fatigue, but memory lapses have troubled her most. She joked about putting name tags on her partner and dogs because she "can't remember what they're called" anymore.
At the beginning of 2026, Gemma returned to the I'm A Celebrity jungle, completing the full stint despite intensified perimenopause symptoms. She said: "I was waking up just bursting into tears in the morning. I've got nothing to be sad about, but it's a very strange thing. You just start to notice it coming on. One of my first symptoms was itching in the inner ear. That is what alerted me to it." She is currently filming her personal reality series, Four Weddings And A Baby, for Sky, documenting her path to matrimony and motherhood. In early 2026, she shared aspirations: "Yes I'm getting married this year and YES I'm having a baby." Having experienced three pregnancy losses and fertility issues, she hopes to become a mum through IVF treatment. She pledged that "it will happen," though acknowledged the programme captures her emotional journey. "You see me broken," Gemma said in April. "It's not all plain sailing. It's very raw. You see that despite the lights, the big house, the glamorous life, you can still be broken in so many ways." According to insiders, Gemma manages symptoms by "talking about it," though maintaining a positive outlook can be challenging. "She's foggy-headed and there's a build-up of emotions," the source reveals. "There's a lot on her shoulders at the minute, so Gemma's looking forward to a bit of a break and taking a holiday this summer. She also wants to get stuck into wedding planning. She won't let anything destroy this."
