Ruth Langsford says husband Eamonn makes her feel ‘sexy’
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The conversation concerning menopause was not the first time the presenter has spoken about her ordeal, but was the first time she shared the story behind her going on HRT. Speaking to fellow panellists, which included Colleen Nolan, Langsford said: “I had a moment with Jack [the son she shares with husband Eamonn Holmes] where we were supposedly clearing his room, he was having it decorated or something and he wasn’t pulling his weight and I had a complete overreaction, screaming at him.” In light of the current HRT situation, many female celebrities are speaking out about their personal menopause experiences, in a bid to normalise the topic and reassure others that they are not alone in their feelings.
“I remember running out of his room, slamming the door between our kitchen and upstairs that’s got glass in it, so I thought, side effects lidocaine infusion ‘That’s going to break,’ ran up to my bedroom and threw myself on the bed and cried like a teenager,” Ruth recalled.
“Then it was like I woke up, ‘What just happened? That was such an overreaction.”
She added: “Then I thought I need to go to the doctor so I think everyone’s had those moments.”
Menopause can affect indivduals in various ways, with symptoms ranging from hot flushes to low mood and anxiety. Both physical and mental symptoms can have a drastic effect on an individual’s ability to go about their daily lives.
Individuals tend to start going through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 as naturally oestrogen levels decline. But for one in 100, menopause can happen before 40 years of age. This is known as premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency. Other common menopause symptoms include:
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex
- Difficulty sleeping
- Low mood or anxiety
- Reduced sex drive (libido)
- Problems with memory and concentration.
Previously opening up about her experience with menopause, and why it encourgaed her to take part in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Langsford said: “I’m getting older and I want to embrace that and feel proud.
“I definitely feel like an angry old woman. I fight over very simple things, and not always people, it can be inanimate objects in the house, or I bang myself or drop something and it’s like a red rage – the language that comes out.
“Some women talk about it happening overnight but it crept up on me. I noticed my body changing, my waist going, my hair thinning and my skin on my face and neck getting less firm.”
Langsford has used her social media pages to address certain symptoms, including hair thinning, insomnia and changes to her body and weight.
Speaking back in 2017, Langsford went on to say: “A few years ago I stopped being able to sleep. I would wake up in the night boiling hot, I’d throw off the covers and then wake up freezing. It would happen so often that after a few months I was completely exhausted.
“It completely affects my ability to lose weight. I try not to let it ruin my life but at least you’re doing those things and you’re going to boot camp. You’re trying your best. As long as you’re enjoying your life and living your life it’s not all about your weight.
“I felt I was losing my energy, losing a bit of who I was. But I am always pragmatic, so I made an appointment to see my GP.”
As well as seeking help from her GP, Langsford changed her lifestyle and diet, aiming to use the gym that the star has in her garage. However, due to her busy work schedule, she admitted that working out can sometimes be a struggle.
Langsford also stressed the importance of having a degree of acceptance, especially when it comes to body changes.
Despite symptoms, the NHS explains that the first sign you might be going through menopause is a change in the normal pattern of your periods. This can include unusually light or heavy periods which happen every two to three weeks, or months apart.
For many individuals HRT is a hugely successful way of managing symptoms including brain fog and joint pains. It can also help prevent thinning of bones and osteoporosis – which is more common after menopause.
There are two main types of HRT, both of which can be taken in several ways including through tablets, patches and through gels:
- Combined HRT (oestrogen and progestogen) – for women who still have their womb
- Oestrogen-only HRT – for women who have had their womb removed in a hysterectomy.
Currently however, shortages of the medicine have reportedly left some women in desperation, and willing to travel hundreds of miles in search of it or share the medication of others.
Offering some recent advice, Dr Paula Briggs, a consultant and Chair Elect of British Menopause Society, said: “Please don’t panic, the British Menopause Society publishes equivalent doses of alternative products, which would just be in the short term until there is a solution to the supply chain issue with HRT. It might last for several months but the bigger picture is we are looking towards a long-term solution to make sure this does not happen again.”
Alternatives to HRT include:
- Lifestyle measures. such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, cutting down on coffee, alcohol and spicy foods, and stopping smoking
- Tibolone – a medicine that’s similar to combined HRT (oestrogen and progestogen), but may not be as effective and is only suitable for women who had their last period more than one year ago
- Antidepressants – some antidepressants can help with hot flushes and night sweats, although they can also cause unpleasant side effects such as agitation and dizziness
- Clonidine – a non-hormonal medicine that may help reduce hot flushes and night sweats in some women, although any benefits are likely to be small.
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