Egg freezing has become increasingly popular in the UK over the past few years. In fact, the latest data shows that in 2016, 1,173 egg freezing cycles were carried out in the UK, compared to just 29 in 2001 — and that the majority of those doing so are women in their early thirties thinking proactively about freezing their eggs for the future. 

Now, Halsey has confirmed that she, too, has decided to freeze her eggs in order to preserve her fertility.

Speaking on Thursday’s episode of The Doctors, the singer explained: “I’m 23 years old, and I’m going to freeze my eggs. And when I tell people that, they’re like, ‘You’re 23, why do you need to do that? Why do you need to freeze your eggs?’”

She continued: “Doing an ovarian reserve is important to me because I’m fortunate enough to have that as an option.

“However, I need to be aggressive about protecting my fertility, and about protecting myself.”

Read more: Why are more young women than ever freezing their eggs?

Of course, Halsey is no stranger to opening up about her health struggles: in 2016, she opened up about her battles with endometriosis for the first time, reassuring her young fans they were not alone and compelling them to demand better health care.

“[If] any of you suffer from endometriosis, please know you’re not alone,” she wrote on Twitter.

“I know how [excruciatingly] painful it can be and how discouraging the disease can be.”

And, earlier this year, Halsey delivered a powerful speech about living with endometriosis, during which she revealed that having to deal with the disorder’s often painful period symptoms while working around men has forced her to become more open about her experience.

“I have male managers in my life,” she said.

“I’m surrounded by men all the time. There were times when I was bleeding through my clothes or I was sick and it got to the point where I had to look at everyone around me and be like, ‘You know what? That is something that is a reality for me and you need to suck it up and deal.’”

Halsey added: “I’m not going to let you make me ashamed of this. We’re going to get through this.”

Endometriosis is “the name given to the condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body,” explains Endometriosis UK.

“Each month these cells react in the same way to those in the womb, building up and then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape.”

The condition can cause painful and/or heavy periods, as well as fatigue, bowel issues, bladder problems, depression and infertility.

Endometriosis can affect all women and girls of a childbearing age (around 1.5 million women in the UK are currently living with the condition), and it can have a significant impact on their life in a number or ways.

However, with the right endometriosis treatment, many of these issues can be addressed, and the symptoms of endometriosis made more manageable. As it can only be officially diagnosed with a surgical procedure, though, a recent report has indicated many women’s symptoms are being confused with other health problems and thus delaying appropriate referrals.

Indeed, with 40% of women saying they had seen a doctor 10 times before being referred to a gynaecologist and 67% saying they obtained most of their information on the subject from the internet, the findings from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Women’s Health reveal a lack of awareness around what is considered ‘normal’ menstruation and what indicates a more serious issue.

Thank goodness, then, that so many high-profile women are using their platforms to raise awareness of the condition: as well as Halsey, Lena Dunham, Daisy Ridley, Julianne Hough and Emily Seebohm have discussed their own experiences of endometriosis – and encouraged sufferers to stop feeling ashamed and seek help from their doctors.

For information and support on endometriosis, visit endometriosis-uk.org.

Image: Rex Features