Television presenter and dating expert Anna Williamson has spoken candidly about the profound impact perimenopause has had on her marriage and intimate life, revealing she has now begun Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
'My Libido Is In The Trenches': A Marriage Navigates Change
The 44-year-old Celebs Go Dating star explained that symptoms like severe 'brain fog' and a plummeting sex drive led to her decision to start treatment. "I'm very perimenopausal. In fact, today I started HRT," Anna shared during an appearance on the Two Women Chatting podcast with host Michelle Ford.
She was blunt about the challenges, stating: "I've had a lot of brain fog, and my libido is in the trenches and that's really hard for me, and for my husband." The TV personality, married to fitness guru Alex Di Pasquale since 2015, emphasised the importance of open communication to navigate this shift.
"But it's about bringing it up, talking about it, and asking: what do you need from me?" she said. "Right now, my husband needs other ways to feel connected to me, and to feel that he's sexually attractive to me, which he is."
From Dishwasher Jokes to Deeper Connection
Anna outlined how their needs have evolved, highlighting a desire for more non-sexual intimacy. "And what do I need from him? Probably a bit more physical touch, cuddles, and time, less of the jokey dry humping over a dishwasher. I'm joking, he doesn't do that," she quipped.
The couple, who share two children named Enzo and Eleanora, are consciously adapting their relationship. Her story reflects a common yet often unspoken experience for thousands of women navigating the transition into menopause.
The Lasagne Dish Placenta: A Post-Natal Recovery Choice
In a separate but equally personal revelation, Anna previously recounted a striking detail from the birth of her son in 2017. She opted for placentophagy – the practice of consuming the placenta post-birth – which is believed in wellness circles to aid recovery and reduce the risk of post-natal depression.
The process involved her husband, Alex, performing an unusual task. "The midwife took my placenta and put it in the Pyrex dish," Anna told the Daily Mail. This was no ordinary Pyrex dish, but the one typically used for making lasagne.
Alex then had to hand the dish containing the organ to a courier from a private encapsulation company in the hospital car park, a transaction Anna jokingly compared to a "dodgy drug deal." The company, which charged £150, freeze-dried and ground the placenta into 60 capsules for her to take.
"I got my lasagna dish back, and I gave it a proper clean and it went through the dishwasher," she said. "I still use it, but I don't often admit to people that it momentarily had my placenta in it."
Defending the choice, she reasoned it was no different to the dish holding raw meat, and stated it remains in perfect condition.
Understanding HRT: A Quick Guide
Anna's decision to start HRT is a path chosen by many to alleviate menopausal symptoms. The treatment works by replacing hormones like oestrogen that decline during menopause. Key points include:
- What it is: Most women in the UK take combined HRT (oestrogen and progesterone) to protect the womb lining.
- Risks vs Benefits: While early studies raised cancer concerns, later analysis found risks for women aged 50-60 were overestimated. Benefits often outweigh risks for many symptomatic women.
- Side-effects: Can include breast tenderness, headaches, and nausea. Tablets (not patches/gels) may slightly raise clot risk.
- Alternatives: Non-hormonal options include Tibolone or Clonidine. Bio-identical hormones are available privately but are not NHS-recommended due to a lack of regulation.
By sharing her experiences with both perimenopause and unconventional post-natal practices, Anna Williamson joins a growing number of public figures breaking the silence on women's health, offering both candour and relatable insight into personal choices.
