Menopause symptoms as Davina McCall says she feared she had a ‘brain tumour’

Davina McCall’s new documentary – Sex, Mind and the Menopause – left viewers in tears as the TV presenter shared her ‘horrific’ experience of menopause and how it can affect women’s brains

Davina McCall has revealed that she thought she had a brain tumour during the onset of menopause symptoms.

The TV presenter told the BBC that she remembers thinking “I’ve got a brain tumour or Alzheimer’s or something. Help me.”

In her new documentary, Davina McCall: Sex, Mind and the Menopause, the former Big Brother host explored the issues that women face during menopause and perimenopause, and also opened up about her own experiences.

With over 5 million women in the UK aged between 45 and 55 years, the scope of potentially menopausal women in the country right now is large.

Despite this, Davina’s documentary revealed that menopause, perimenopause, and the symptoms associated are still topics that are considered taboo, with many women feeling too ashamed to talk about them.

What is menopause?

The NHS defines menopause as “when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally.”

Menopause is a natural part of the ageing process and it generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, as a woman’s oestrogen levels decline.

The National Institute of Ageing (NIH) says that menopause usually lasts for around seven years, but it can go on for as long as 14 years.

Although menopause is a natural process, many women suffer from debilitating symptoms.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

The majority of women going through menopause will experience menopausal symptoms, but these can vary in severity.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with the menopause include:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Trouble sleeping
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood changes
• Brain fog
• Reduced sex drive

During her menopause documentary, Davina revealed that of the 4,000 45 to 55-year-olds they had asked, 70% reported suffering from brain fog and half said that menopause symptoms affected their ability to do their job.

What is perimenopause?

Davina started experiencing perimenopausal symptoms at the age of 44, during the documentary she spoke about how it was these symptoms that led her to believe she may have Alzheimer’s.

Perimenopause means “around menopause” and refers to the transition time.

During the perimenopausal stage, women may begin to notice some changes, which could include:

• Irregular periods
• Periods getting heavier or lighter than usual
• Needing to urinate more frequently
• Changing cholesterol levels

Perimenopausal women may also experience some menopause-like symptoms such as:

• Hot flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Brain fog
• Mood changes