Fitness expert Kayla Itsines opens up about endometriosis health battle

Kayla Itsines has opened up about her secret health battle that saw the fitness expert undergo surgery.

Kayla Itsines has opened up about her secret health battle that saw her undergo surgery.

Weeks out from her 30th birthday, the fitness expert has detailed her treatment for endometriosis, including recent surgery.

“I had so many cysts burst in the 12 months leading up to that surgery,” Itsines tells the latest issues of Women’s Health magazine, in stores on Thursday.

Kayla Itsines appears in this month’s Women's Health magazine. Picture: Steve Baccon, Women’s Health

“I was just glad to have my body back – just internally to feel like it’s my body again. I got my first period which was a lot lighter – it wasn’t an ice pack here and a heat pack there and needing to sit on the shower floor. There wasn’t that big drama.”

She continued: “Maybe an aspirin or anti-inflammatory, but not heavy meds to combat all this pain. It’s just different, it’s way better.”

Itsines has amassed nearly 13 million Instagram followers globally with her Sweat fitness programs.

She founded the business with ex-fiance Tobi Pearce, with whom she has two-year-old daughter, Arna.

Kayla Itsines on the cover of this month’s Women's Health magazine. Picture: Steve Baccon, Women’s Health

Kayla Itsines with daughter Arna. Picture: Instagram

The separation, she told the magazine, was hard but things are better now with the couple continuing to work together.

“For everyone, and for every woman, in that situation, it is a really hard time,” she said. “I think what’s important is to just take time to adjust to life by yourself.”

Itsines is in a new relationship, although is keeping details secret for now.

It’s early days,” she said. “I’m super happy. We have a strong sense of family and a love for fitness (in common).”

Kayla Itsines in this month’s Women's Health magazine. Picture: Steve Baccon, Women’s Health

One of the core elements of Itsines fitness program was the Bikini Body Guide (BBG), a label she has decided to shelve as she takes the business into its next phase.

“I felt that to be honest, BBG seemed outdated,” she said.

“It wasn’t something I wanted Arna to grow up with. It was an acronym developed 10 years ago with positive intent, of course, and this incredible and amazing community has grown.”