Penny Lancaster shared a heartfelt glimpse into her feelings about menopause in a new video on Wednesday. Speaking as part of Wellbeing of Women's campaign #ChatMenopause, the star shared a brief clip to her Instagram stories.
In the video, the mum-of-two said: "I think it's like that stigma, still people are embarrassed and afraid to almost admit, 'I'm of that age, I'm getting old.'"
SEE: Penny Lancaster looks ethereal in flowing white dress for special occasion
She was speaking with MP Carolyn Harris, who also shared her experience of menopause with the organisation.
The 51-year-old has been very honest about her experience of menopause, as well as advocating for HRT to be available free.
WATCH: Penny Lancaster opens up about menopause stigma in new video
"The menopause freaked me out at first," she explained in an interview with HELLO!
SEE: Penny Lancaster looks stunning in slinky dress as she poses with topless Rod Stewart
SEE: Penny Lancaster twins with lookalike stepdaughters during luxurious holiday
"I thought: 'This is the end of the road. I'm not going to have any more sex appeal, I'm not going to be as lenient or forgiving.' I've got to say goodbye to the old Penny and say hello to the new one. I felt it was all shutting down around me.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPenny is opening up about her experience
"I spoke to a doctor who put me on anti-depressants, which levelled things out, but although symptoms of the menopause can be mistaken for depression, this wasn't the right treatment for the condition – it was just a form of plaster that covered it up," she continued.
"It wasn't until I spoke to a specialist that I started taking HRT. She was a woman who'd been through it and knew what she was talking about. She reached out and pulled me to the other side!"
© Photo: InstagramThe star and Rod Stewart share two sons
Earlier in the year, Penny issued an impassioned plea over the HRT shortage as she appeared on TalkTV's The News Desk.
Speaking about the high demand, the star explained: "The demand for HRT is because of the confidence women now have, after a lot of campaigning after the last two or three years, we're not sort of shying away from it."
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