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7 celebs share their top menopause tips

There are a number of celebrities who have opened up about their struggles with the symptoms it brings. From dispelling myths to giving practical advice on a global stage, more and more famous women are coming forward to talk about menopause and break the taboos surrounding it.

Medically reviewed by

Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

Actors, musicians, talk show hosts and even Royal family members have all made their voice known to raise awareness about the menopause, including how it’s impacting their work, routines, and general wellbeing. We’ll take a closer look at some tips and advice from famous women who’ve put their menopause experiences in the spotlight.

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Medically reviewed by

Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

on June 27, 2023.

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Menopause tips from famous women

In the UK, television presenters Davina McCall and Lorraine Kelly, actor Dawn French, entrepreneurs Liz Earle and Seema Malhotra, and GP Dr Louise Newson are just a few high profile people who have spoken candidly about enduring the menopause and the often distressing symptoms that come with it. In the US, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts, along with others, have done the same.

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Davina McCall

Davina McCall is one of the leading voices both in the media and online when it comes to discussing menopause symptoms.
Through her social media platforms, McCall shares tips and advice to help her followers cope with the stress the menopause inevitably brings. In one Instagram post during Menopause Awareness Month (which runs every year throughout October), she told her followers to “avoid caffeine, tight clothes and heat” to avoid the hot flushes that made her feel like she was “literally on fire”.
McCall has also offered her thoughts in TV appearances. Speaking on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’ in 2022 with host Lorraine Kelly, who has previously opened up about her struggles with the menopause, McCall was frank about feeling “lonely” while Kelly admitted feeling “flat” as their hormonal changes developed. Kelly’s tip for surviving this phase of life was to “focus on the positives”, and the two agreed that there are lots of things you can do to deal with the psychological pressure the menopause can put you under. On her own YouTube channel, McCall has talked openly and answered questions about the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that she uses.
Sex, Myths and The Menopause
In 2021, she made a programme for Channel 4 called ‘Sex, Myths and The Menopause.’ In it, McCall detailed the shortcomings and failures of the country’s health system in its response to the thousands of women looking for reliable support during their menopause. Before the documentary was aired, she shared her HRT routine, which was summarised by online health and beauty magazine Get The Gloss.
According to the post, McCall uses an oestrogen patch twice a week, along with oestrogen gel and testosterone cream daily. She also gets progesterone from a coil.

Naomi Watts

In a February 2023 edition of Women’s Health, actor Naomi Watts was interviewed about her experiences of the menopause.
In the piece, Watts described the menopause as “a natural part of life”, adding that it “serves everyone in our community to share our stories.”
The Hot Spot
Encouraging a space for other women to share their thoughts about the menopause, Watts, together with Stripes (a brand created by the actor that sells a range of menopause health products) launched ‘The Hot Spot’, an online support community where women can engage and share their stories.

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Dawn French

Comedian and actor Dawn French shared her experiences in a 2018 interview with monthly women’s magazine Prima.
French’s advice for anyone going through the menopause was to “accept it”. She added, “if you need help, go and get it. There’s so much out there to help you.”

Gwyneth Paltrow

Managing the menopause often needs a number of different approaches.
Medication, lifestyle changes and diet can all improve your health as you adjust to hormonal changes and persistent symptoms.
Ensuring you’re getting the right nutrients can mean you're less likely to encounter common issues associated with menopause, such as osteoporosis. When oestrogen levels drop during menopause, bone mass can decrease. On average, an estimated 10% of bone mass is lost during the first five years of a woman’s menopause. Foods like kale, yoghurt and milk, that are rich in calcium, can all help keep your bones healthy.
The Paleo diet, fasting and menopause
Eating well can also help you maintain a healthy weight. Celebrities have thanked specific diets for helping their menopause symptoms. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Gwyneth Paltrow claimed she had switched to a Paleo diet along with “intermittent fasting when it works with my cycle.”
The Paleo (Paleolithic) diet involves eating foods that our hunter-gatherer ancestors would eat. Although it might sound extreme, it mostly involves eating fruit, vegetables and whole foods, and avoiding processed foods that Paleo advocates claim put a strain on our digestive systems.
Advocates of intermittent fasting say it can help prevent weight gain, which is a known symptom of menopause for some women. There is some research to suggest fasting has health benefits, but along with the Paleo diet, it’s best to ensure it’s safe for you beforehand, by speaking to a healthcare professional first.
Gwyneth Paltrow is another HRT advocate. She told the Daily Mail that “if it gets bad, that’s what hormones are there for. Just speak to your doctor and do what’s right for you.”

Seema Malhotra

Seema Malhotra, star of reality series The Real Housewives of Cheshire, has spoken about her struggles with the menopause and the symptoms she experiences.
In a 2019 article featured in the Manchester Evening News, Seema admitted to being “constantly tired, feeling anxious, and generally not feeling the person I used to be.”
After trying out a variety of therapies, Seema began using HRT, and eventually “started to feel herself again”. The TV celebrity went on to explain how finding out that menopause was responsible for changes to her body was “half the problem solved”. Along with HRT, Seema recommends trying whatever approaches work for you, and found acupuncture has helped her sleep better.

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Liz Earle

Entrepreneur Liz Earle published a book about menopause called ‘The Good Menopause Guide’.
She believes eating the right fats is important during menopause. In a 2018 piece she did for Hello! Magazine, Earle recommends “avocados, oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring” alongside “seeds such as chia and flax”.

Dr Louise Newson

Dr Louise Newson is a GP and menopause specialist.
As well as writing information guides, running a podcast and making numerous TV appearances, Dr Newson is the founder of The Menopause Charity. The charity aims to help anyone going through the menopause, by creating “a world where the menopause is embraced and viewed as an opportunity for new beginnings, adventures and opportunities.”
In a video she posted to Facebook to promote her Balance Menopause app, Dr Nelson shared these three pointers for anyone going through the menopause.
Menopause affects every woman.
It’s about having low hormone levels.
It’s not all about hot flushes.
Dr Newson went on to explain how the three most common symptoms menopausal women suffer at work are anxiety, fatigue and memory problems.

Getting help and advice for menopause

If you’re struggling with menopause symptoms, our clinicians can give you safe, effective advice about things that can help. There is a wealth of information on the menopause out there, and thanks to celebrities and their efforts to raise awareness about it, the menopause doesn’t have to be something you suffer alone.
And if you’re thinking of starting hormone replacement therapy, our clinicians can give you detailed information about a range of HRT gels, patches, and tablets. They can also give you tips for improving your diet, lifestyle, and anything else they think might benefit you while you’re going through menopause.

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When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.