Penny Lancaster urges more help for women enduring ‘soul destroying’ menopause

Penny Lancaster has called for better support for women going through the menopause, as she told how it can be mentally and physically “soul destroying”.

The TV presenter and model, who is married to Sir Rod Stewart, is campaigning for the abolition of prescription charges for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a treatment to relieve symptoms of the menopause.

MPs are due to vote on a private members’ Bill on Friday that, if passed, would make HRT free for those going through the menopause in England.

Lancaster, who turned 50 in March, has previously spoken of how she was prescribed antidepressants when she experienced brain fog and mood swings while going through the change.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast alongside journalist and author Mariella Frostrup, Lancaster called for the issue to be dealt with promptly.

She said: “Women felt like there is a taboo subject, that they are embarrassed to talk about it, that they feel they are on the edge of being extinct almost.

“If there was a 50-year-old man in a company, at the top of his game, being promoted, and he had a health issue – physically and mentally like women suffer with menopause – they would find something to help him.

“And this is hundreds of women, it’s not just a few women suffer from this.

“Every single woman will go through this and sadly due to other health issues younger women can have to go through HRT much earlier than your average woman.

“It really needs to be dealt with because physically and mentally it can be soul destroying.”

Lancaster said that although antidepressants could “take the edge off” the effects of menopause, they are only a “band aid” covering up the issue.

“The night sweats prevent you from sleeping so you can’t even begin your day properly and every amount of anxiety, every decision you have to make, is not in your control anymore,” she said.

“Then you feel like you are having a nervous breakdown – so I get it.”

Frostrup, 58, recently published the book Cracking The Menopause with Alice Smellie in a bid to address the issue.

She said: “We shouldn’t have period poverty in this country where young girls can’t afford to get sanitary towels and we definitely, definitely shouldn’t have the lottery that we currently have when it comes to support for the menopause.

“Whether you go the HRT route or you don’t, HRT should be free for any women who needs it – and every single doctor in the land should be trained properly in menopause practice.”