Vera, 49, started to experience perimenopausal symptoms in her mid-40s. “I started to feel chills around the time of Covid – instead of hot flushes, it was more like cold flushes which have been persistent. My sleep has been affected, and I never know how to dress properly. I’m also experiencing a lack of libido at the moment.

“I’ve always been quite temperamental and don’t have much patience – but now I’m even more irritable!,”

she says. “Once I’m post-menopausal I’m hoping to become a bit calmer.”

Her corporate workplace is very supportive of employees who may be going through menopause and Vera says she can be open about her symptoms with her colleagues and boss. But when she first discussed it with her GP her symptoms were dismissed, leaving her to do her own research online. She thinks it’s great that high-profile women in the public eye are openly discussing menopause as it’s so useful for other women like her.