Michelle Ackerley is expecting her first child with rugby coach husband Benjamin Ryan, one year after their wedding.

The TV presenter, 40, shared that the news came as a ‘massive surprise’ to her, and said she is proceeding with ‘nervous and cautious excitement’ amid her ongoing battle with endometriosis.

Sharing a series of loved-up snaps with Benjamin to Instagram, alongside a picture of their baby scan, she penned: ‘I can’t believe it’s nearly been a year since getting married and I honestly didn’t think 12months on that I’d be writing a post sharing that I’m pregnant…

‘I know this kind of news can be difficult to read for some so I understand if you would rather scroll past on this.

‘I wanted to share though as my journey with endometriosis and infertility is something I finally felt confident to start speaking about more openly last year – realising how many other women were going through similar experiences.

‘Feeling part of a community – especially when it comes to women’s health can really make a difference.’

Michelle Ackerley is expecting her first child with rugby coach husband Benjamin Ryan, one year after their wedding
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Michelle Ackerley is expecting her first child with rugby coach husband Benjamin Ryan, one year after their wedding

The TV presenter, 40, shared that the news came as a 'surprise' to her, and said she is proceeding with 'nervous and cautious excitement' amid her battle with endometriosis
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The TV presenter, 40, shared that the news came as a ‘surprise’ to her, and said she is proceeding with ‘nervous and cautious excitement’ amid her battle with endometriosis

She added: ‘Even at the very start of this year I was gearing up for yet another endo procedure and trying to come to terms with the mental & physical impact they can have. It has been quite the emotional rollercoaster.

‘The news of falling pregnant really came as a massive surprise to both of us. We still can’t quite believe it. And so in October, the start of a new chapter begins for @benryan7s and I, albeit with nervous and cautious excitement.

‘I’d like to share more about the journey on here going forward and would love for you to share with me too.’

Michelle’s pals including MAFS UK’s Ella Morgan, Strictly star Montell Douglas and Kimberley Walsh congratulated her in the comment section.

Michelle previously revealed how endometriosis left her struggling with menopause symptoms at the age of 24.

Michelle, who has co-presented The One Show on BBC1, was given hormone replacement therapy injections to ease the heavy bleeding and intense pain caused by the long-term condition, in which tissue usually found in the womb grows elsewhere in the body.

She said she felt ’embarrassed’ when the treatment gave her hot flushes, itchy skin and extreme mood swings, leaving her body ‘crumbling’.

‘I was experiencing intense pain with my endometriosis and heavy bleeding,’ Miss Ackerley, now 37, told Closer.

She shared a series of loved-up snaps with Benjamin to Instagram, alongside a picture of their baby scan
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She shared a series of loved-up snaps with Benjamin to Instagram, alongside a picture of their baby scan


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She wrote: 'I can't believe it's nearly been a year since getting married and I honestly didn't think 12months on that I'd be writing a post sharing that I'm pregnant…'
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She wrote: ‘I can’t believe it’s nearly been a year since getting married and I honestly didn’t think 12months on that I’d be writing a post sharing that I’m pregnant…’

Michelle's pals including MAFS UK's Ella Morgan, Strictly star Montell Douglas and Kimberley Walsh congratulated her in the comment section

Michelle’s pals including MAFS UK’s Ella Morgan, Strictly star Montell Douglas and Kimberley Walsh congratulated her in the comment section

She said she tried various treatments including painkillers over several years before her gynaecologist suggested hormone replacement therapy injections.

‘It worked, but basically put me into an early form of menopause for 18 months,’ she said.

‘I was given monthly injections into my stomach, which made my periods completely stop.

‘I’d experience these intense hot flushes, my skin became itchy and sore and I had (acne) breakouts on my face.

‘I suffered extreme mood swings so I was all over the place, feeling really panicky and then really angry.’

Michelle said the hot flushes, which felt like ‘someone had thrust a hot water bottle on to my chest’, would happen during meetings and phone conversations.

Michelle has presented shows including The One Show and Watchdog (pictured with TV presenters Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones)
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Michelle has presented shows including The One Show and Watchdog (pictured with TV presenters Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones)

'I was so busy trying to be this bubbly, positive person while physically and mentally my body was crumbling,' she said
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‘I was so busy trying to be this bubbly, positive person while physically and mentally my body was crumbling,’ she said

‘I tried to fake it as best I could,’ she said. ‘I felt so embarrassed.’

It is not clear what causes the condition but treatments include hormone medicines and surgery to remove the tissue.

Michelle, who has also presented Watchdog and several CBBC shows, said she felt ‘isolated’ as she thought she couldn’t talk about the side effects of a medication that was meant to be helping her.

‘I was so busy trying to be this bubbly, positive person while physically and mentally my body was crumbling,’ she said.