Washington, July 20 English actress Anna Friel thanks her doctors for helping her give birth to her daughter Gracie, for a medical condition had almost left her infertile.

In 2001, Friel collapsed in agony and needed an emergency operation after suffering a burst ovarian cyst.

Doctors operating on her at the time had found that she also had endometriosis, which makes it difficult for women to conceive.

"It was all very dramatic and frightening. A terrible shock. I lost two litres of blood and had to have two transfusions," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

"The doctors saved my ovaries but they said that to stand a chance of having children I had to conceive within five years, before I was 30," she added.

The 'Pushing Daisies' star gave birth to Gracie in 2005, aged 28. (ANI)