Davina McCall has spoken candidly about turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) amid her menopausal struggle.
Sharing her experience ahead of her new documentary – Davina McCall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause – the TV presenter, 53, detailed her own ‘frightening’ journey, revealing she ‘went into a bit of a depression‘.
Davina admitted she was embarrassed about going public with the fact that she had started body-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), in which yams replace the synthetic hormones used in HRT.
Candid: Davina McCall, 53, has spoken candidly about turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) amid her menopausal struggle
She told the Radio Times: ‘I was scared about what was going on. I found out a newer HRT treatment was made from yams, but was afraid to go public about it.’
‘Somehow menopause is shameful to admit, in a million different ways. You’re past your sell-by date. You’re not a baby-maker.’
Describing her perimenopause (the early stages of the menopause) Davina added: ‘My sleep was interrupted two or three times a night and it caused a chain of events in my brain that really frightened me.
‘The mental fog and confusion were so overwhelming.’
Distressing: Sharing her experience ahead of her new documentary, the TV presenter, 53, detailed her own ‘frightening’ journey, revealing she ‘went into a bit of a depression’
The former Big Brother host’s new Channel 4 documentary strives to eliminate the myths surrounding menopause, and dispel the shame and fear around hormone replacement therapy.
Davina previously revealed she was left in tears of ‘frustration and anger’ while filming the show, confessing: ‘I get home after filming and sometimes I just sit down and cry… from deep frustration and anger at how we are failing women.’
She added: ‘This film isn’t just for menopausal women, it’s for their partners, their fathers, their brothers, and their sons.’
Important: The Big Brother host’s new Channel 4 documentary strives to eliminate the myths surrounding menopause, and dispel the shame and fear around hormone replacement therapy
In January the former Big Brother host revealed that she believed she was developing early onset Alzheimer’s when she started going through the menopause.
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According to the NHS, one of the symptoms of menopause is problems with memory and concentration, as well as night sweats, hot flushes, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, low mood and anxiety.
Out now: Read the full interview in this week’s Radio Times, out now
Speaking on Gabby Logan’s The Mid.Point podcast, she recalled: ‘I’m learning different things for everything in my brain sometimes, because when I went to my doctor and I said, “Look, please help me, I think I’ve got Alzheimer’s because obviously my dad’s got Alzheimer’s’.
‘And I was like, “I’m always paranoid – I know I haven’t really got it but am I okay?” [The doctor] said, “It’s called cognitive overload”.’
Davina’s candid comments come after she reportedly stepped down from her presenting gig on the reboot of Changing Rooms as the upcoming filming dates conflict with her current work commitments.
The TV personality was expected to host the Channel 4 show with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, it was announced last year.
But after the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc with her schedule and pushed back production dates twice, she can longer commit to the new series.
Change of plan: Davina has reportedly stepped down from her presenting gig on the reboot of Changing Rooms as the upcoming filming dates conflict with her current work commitments
An insider told The Sun: ‘Davina was so excited to be part of the reboot but with the changing production schedule, it has become a nightmare.
‘Filming was supposed to take place at the end of last year but it got moved until earlier this year. And now it’s been pushed back again.
‘The lockdown and pandemic have played havoc with the schedule and sadly Davina has said she won’t be able to commit. It’s the last thing anyone wanted but she is so busy with other filming commitments.
‘Everyone on Changing Rooms is gutted as getting Davina on board was a huge coup for the reboot.’
COVID: After the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc with Davina’s schedule and pushed back production dates twice, she can longer commit to the new series
Source: Daily Mail
