Lucy Spraggan has opened up about the distressing intrusive thoughts she experiences when her period is due before she goes on stage, describing the combination of touring and endometriosis as "very awful."
The former X Factor star, 35, posted a candid video on Instagram on Sunday discussing how being on her period can affect her mental state ahead of a performance. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere in the body, affecting around one in ten women in the UK, with diagnosis taking on average over nine years. There is no cure, but patients can manage pain and improve their quality of life.
Struggles before festival slot
In the video, Spraggan said: "If you don't wanna talk about periods - off you go. I'm about to talk about periods. I have endometriosis as some of you know, I am a touring musician, hopefully as some of you know. When combined - very awful!"
She added: "I am due on tomorrow and this weekend I've just spent thinking to myself, 'I'm definitely not good enough and I'm repulsive, no one is gonna turn up to your festival slot, no one is gonna enjoy your music.'"
Spraggan concluded her post by reassuring followers that they are not alone if they also struggle with intrusive thoughts during their period. She said: "And I just want anybody to know, whether you have endometriosis or not, these horrible period-related thought processes, I think I'm just saying 'Me too.' I guess I just wanna say that you're not suffering alone. Love you."
Fans show support
Fans flooded the post with supportive comments, with one writing: "This this this! I’m still newish to the music industry, and still working out how to navigate performing when on my period! It’s absolutely horrible, but something I suppose we’re just expected to get on with. So refreshing to see convos about it!"
Another commented: "Never forget you ARE amazin, hate what our mind does when we r due or on our period," while a third wrote: "You are marvellous and actually doing the uterus owning humans a great service by posting this."
Surgery and awareness campaign
Just under a year ago, Spraggan underwent surgery and shared the news to raise awareness of endometriosis. In a video message, she said: "Hello everybody! I'm fine. My throat hurts a bit. But the reason I'm here is because I have endometriosis along with 1 in 10 women. The wait times in the UK from first being seen to diagnosis are ludicrous in the country."
She continued: "I've had the privilege of being seen privately. But there is something that needs to be done for people that don't have that privilege. I'm sending love to anybody else who has endometriosis and hoping that you get the help that you need. But, yeah, let's raise some more awareness."
The post was shared in collaboration with Endometriosis UK. In the caption, Spraggan wrote: "Ola guys, first of all I'm doing all good!! I have a condition called Endometriosis and had my third laparoscopy today."
Spraggan rose to fame after auditioning for The X Factor in 2012, impressing judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa, Mel B and Louis Walsh with her original song Last Night (Beer Fear). Since leaving the competition, she has released eight studio albums and duetted with Robbie Williams on Sober. Earlier this year, she completed an acoustics-themed tour, and in 2025 launched shows in support of her latest record Other Sides of the Moon.
