Strictly's Anton Du Beke says wife's endometriosis diagnosis is 'cruel and inexplicable'
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has spoken frankly about his wife's devastating battle with endometriosis and how it affected their journey to parenthood.
The cherished BBC personality married marketing executive Hannah Summers in 2017, having first met at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey in 2012. The pair were delighted to welcome twins George and Henrietta following their wedding, after successful IVF treatment.
Yet, during a heartfelt conversation on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy mum Happy Baby podcast, Anton revealed that Hannah had grave worries about their chances of starting a family due to her crippling endometriosis condition.
The NHS describes endometriosis as "where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body. It can have a big impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help".
The distinguished dancer admitted his confusion at life's harshness, as he observed Hannah tenderly engaging with her nephews, questioning the fairness of their fertility struggles, reports the Mirror.
He said: "I knew I wanted to be with her, I saw her with her nephews. She's so kind and so caring, I just couldn't understand the universe."
Anton bemoaned the apparent unfairness from above, stating: "And whoever is upstairs, if anyone's upstairs, looking down and going 'you are the most perfect person to have children, but I'm not going to let you have any children because I'm going to give you this'.
"And I'm going to say 'you're going to have this endometriosis, and you're going to suffer with this all of your life, chronically, and I'm not going to let you have any children.
"I thought that was peculiar, cruel, and inexplicable and unforgivable. And if ever I go up to somewhere and meet this person I would say 'I think you're not OK with decisions like this, this doesn't make any sense to me."
Anton has candidly spoken about the difficulties he and his wife Hannah encountered during their IVF journey, which eventually brought them closer together. The couple were blessed as the treatment worked on their first attempt, resulting in the birth of their twins, George and Henrietta, in 2017, with their nuptials taking place later that year.
In a heartfelt chat with Giovanna, Anton admitted his previous lack of knowledge about endometriosis and emphasised the importance of increased government funding for women's health services.
Reflecting on their ordeal, he shared: "Then we went through the process of IVF, well crying out loud. You girls are extraordinary. As much as I want to get involved, all I can do is hold your hand. It makes me emotional every time I talk about it. The injections, the stress, the anxiety. I have anxiety and stress but it's not my body.
"She has these injections and the bruises in the bum, in the thigh, in the stomach. And you're trying to help but what can you do? Whatever you want, tell me and I'll do it but that's all you have and it's horrendous as a man to watch it.
"You feel so inadequate and you want to do so much more but I can't do anything. And that's why you girls are so extraordinary, you're extraordinary that you do all this stuff."
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