Seema Malhotra has spoken her battle with the menopause and has revealed the treatment that works for her.
The Real Housewives of Cheshire star says after trying out lots of different therapies, she has finally started managing her symptoms.
Seema told the Manchester Evening News that she has finally started to feel herself again after taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The mother-of-two says by speaking out, she hopes to address the stigma attached to the subject, which women usually face at around 50 years old.
Seema said: “I am still getting hot flushes, but I feel much better now.
“I didn't want to take HRT because of the myth that you get breast cancer but as I am learning more and more, I have realised I am going to take it if it works for me.
“You will see on the show I am having some alternative treatments, acupuncture where they put needles all over me, that actually really helped, I had a good night's sleep.
“Women just need to find what works best for them.”
Ahead of the ninth series of the ITVBe show, Seema wanted to use the platform to speak out about her experience in the hope of helping other women plagued with symptoms including hot flushes and sleep problems.
Real Housewives of Cheshire series 9
She said: “It's weird - I didn't know what was happening to my body. I couldn't sleep, was constantly tired, feeling anxious, and generally not feeling the person I used to be.
“If I can help others it's a great platform to be on to talk about it. The feedback I have had is unreal. I get so many messages I can't answer them all. People want to know what am I on, what am I doing, the treatments.
“I literally hit a brick wall with it. Once you know what's wrong with you that's half the problem solved.”
In the last series viewers were confused to see Seema forget a conversation she had with Perla Navia about Tanya’s depression - sparking a big row between them.
But the fashion designer, who owns fashion brand Forever Unique, says this is a classic sign of menopause.
“I couldn't remember half the things she was saying and it's clear it was there - you see Perla telling me on the boat,” she explained. “I just didn't remember.
“When I realised, I did put my hands up and apologise to Perla and she also apologised to me saying she completely got me wrong.
“If she's saying sorry to me then she's the bigger person to do that and I put my hands up and said I'm sorry. So clean slate, baby steps. So far we have cleaned the air.”
The Real Housewives of Cheshire series nine launches on Monday, March 25 at 10pm on ITVBe.
