Married At First Sight Australia’s Rhi Disljenkovic has opened up about a health issue on her co-star Carina Mirabile’s podcast – and the shocking advice doctors gave her.

Rhi, who married Jeff Gobbels during season nine of the hit Channel Nine dating show and has been in a relationship with him ever since, spoke candidly about having endometriosis.

The 35-year-old reality star was first diagnosed with the condition ten years ago at the age of 25. Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body. Symptoms include severe period pain, heavy periods and extreme tiredness. Some women can also have difficulty getting pregnant, as stated by the NHS.

Rhi told Carina on her newly-launched This Is Chaos podcast what she was told by doctors when she recieved her diagnosis a decade earlier: “I was told at 25 I would probably have trouble having children. They actually told me when I had surgery when I was 25 that I should have kids that year.”

The TV bride said she was shocked by that suggestion. “But I was like ‘I’m single’,” she said. “It just sucks that women have to explain their body changes all the time. I’ve always been someone really proud of my body and someone confident in my body,” she added.

Rhi and Jeff made show history in this year’s MAFS Aus when they recognised each other on their wedding day and it was revealed they knew each other before they entered their experiment. They had dated the year prior, but their relationship had fizzled. They later explained that they had both come out of long-term relationships when they first met and weren’t in the right place at that time for a serious union.

Married at First Sight Australia star Rhi Disljenkovic. Photo by Instagram/@rhidisljenkovic. Married at First Sight Australia star Rhi Disljenkovic. Photo by Instagram/@rhidisljenkovic. | Instagram/@rhidisljenkovic

They took things slow in the experiment, and took their time to get to know each other on a deeper level before returning to their physical relationship. They showed their love throughout the experience, and were the only couple who didn’t encounter any issues. They are also the only original season 12 couple who are still together after meeting on the show – although there are two couples who have since got together although they were not matched on the show.

The TV star continued to speak candidly to Carina about her future plans with 40-year-old Jeff. She said the couple “definitely want to have kids at some stage” but are currently focusing on “creating [their] home” as they have just moved in together in Melbourne.

She also said the pair are enjoying where they are at in their relationship now although she admitted at times she does feel the pressure to start a family – something which is magnified by her age and her health issue. “As much as I am 35 and I’ve got endometriosis, I was told at 25 I would probably have trouble having children,” she added.

The fitness influencer has also recently spoke out against trolls who had commented on her weight – and had even questioned if she was pregnant now. She said she was left feeling “disappointed” and “self-conscious” after seeing people commenting that she may be expecting.

“Honestly, it’s disappointing,” Rhi told Daily Mail Australia. “ I put on a bit of weight during and after the experiment and I was already feeling self-conscious about it. So when people start speculating or comment like that, it doesn’t just roll off your back. . . it actually hurts.

She went on: “There’s this weird expectation that women have to explain any changes to their body – and the second we’re not shredded or photographed well, people jump to conclusions like pregnancy. You never know what someone’s going through, and even if someone was pregnant, it’s such a personal thing. nIt’s not gossip – it’s hurtful, and it can affect someone’s mental health. We’ve got to do better.”

Commenting further on the topic on Carina’s podcast, she said: “’I’m not pregnant, although every article says I am. And I think the weight gain contributed to the pregnancy comments. Then I saw the comments about me putting on weight.”