Lisa Riley has revealed her hopes of carrying a child have been dashed after doctors told her that IVF is unlikely to work for her.
The 41-year-old wanted to have a baby with her partner, Al, but has now said tests have suggested the poor quality of her eggs means any fertility treatment would likely not work.
Former Emmerdale star Lisa has now vowed to live life to the fullest without children.
Lisa told The Mirror that finding out she was unlikely to conceive was a “blow” but she “refuses to be defined” by not having children.
“People think women need to have a child to complete themselves, but that just isn’t the case,” she said.
“We have decided now that we aren’t going to go down that route, and now that we have made that decision I could not be happier.”
Lisa, who has become a weight loss inspiration to many since dropping from a dress size 28 to 12 in recent years, said she doesn’t want to put her body through gruelling fertility treatment that is unlikely to succeed.
She said she’s “at peace” with her decision, adding: “I absolutely adore being an auntie and I don’t need a child of my own to complete my picture.”
The former Strictly star had told You Magazine earlier this year of her hopes to become a mother via IVF.
She’d made the U-turn after previously vowing to never have a baby.
After losing her mother and grandmother to cancer, she was worried about what would happen if she had a child, then was diagnosed with the same disease.
Read more: Kym Marsh breaks silence on split from Matt Baker
But her recent health kick and finding love with musician Al, who she met through friends in 2014, led to a change of heart.
“There are a lot of reasons why I want to have a baby: some to do with the fact I’ve saved myself by losing weight, but also that I’m in love for the first time in my life and he would like to have a baby if we can,” she said at the time.
“I don’t just think about myself any more. If we were to have a child, that would be wonderful.”
At her age she knew it wouldn’t be easy, and she said then that, “I’m not going to put myself through a lot of stress if it doesn’t work.”
She’s now stayed true to that vow following her doctor’s recent prognosis, and will instead focus on moving forward and being happy without children.
On Instagram over the weekend, she celebrated a year since she had her last operation to remove excess skin following her huge weight loss.
In a lengthy post, she wrote: “Never for one single second did I think I would achieved the weight loss, body and mind changes I went through!
“As I cry the tears of pride I am reminded that not many could have achieved what I did, and maintained this body and positive mindset.
“It’s NOT a diet it’s a LIFESTYLE….I’ve changed my life for the good…living in my new body which gives me an overwhelming amount of confidence Day by Day. And for this I’m so blessed!!!”