Stacey Solomon has revealed concerns that she may be experiencing early menopause, opening up about her health worries as her new family reality show returned to screens.
The TV presenter, 35, admitted she has been feeling unusually irritable and exhausted despite getting eight hours of sleep, prompting fears she is entering perimenopause.
Speaking on the BBC show, Stacey & Joe, she told her sister Jemma: “I think I'm going through the menopause, I'm perimenopausal, I'm so snappy and tired. I wake up tired, I have eight hours' sleep and I wake up and I'm exhausted.
“On mum's side the menopause came early so we're likely to go through it early too.”
To which her sister Jemma reminded her of her busy lifestyle and joked: “You've got to remember you have 18 children, 17 dogs, 45 chickens, you work full-time, you have a busy life.”
Stacey added: “If you could test tolerance mine would be at its all time low. If I am going through the menopause and that's it, no more children for me, then I think I will open an animal sanctuary.”
The Loose Women star later sought advice from her physiologist Dr Olly, with husband Joe Swash by her side.
“I feel like I'm drying out. I think my ovaries are pruned and they have said goodbye,” she explained. “All my friends on Loose Women talk about it all the time. Some things I can't relate to. But I do think that as I get older I do get more agitated.”
Reflecting afterwards, Stacey shared how her health concerns have deepened since becoming a mother.
“My health anxiety started when I had Zach. I think when you have kids you start to recognise your own mortality. Meeting Olly and having that friend that can go down the rabbit hole with you has really helped,” she added.
Globally, the average age for menopause falls between 44 and 53, with symptoms ranging from irregular periods to hot flashes, irritability, anxiety and low mood.
According to the NHS, 1 in 100 women can experience menopause before the age of 40, which is known as premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency.
Premature or early menopause can occur at any age, and in many cases, there's no clear cause.
Away from her health worries, Stacey and Joe have opened the doors of their home Pickle Cottage for another installment of their reality series.
The show follows the couple as they juggle their careers with raising their three young children Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, alongside Stacey’s older sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships.
