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IT'S arguably one of the most difficult stages of a woman's life, when the support of a partner can be crucial.
But footballer Gary Neville has admitted he ended up putting his foot in it when his wife Emma started going through the menopause in her 30s.
"I remember saying one day, which was a massive mistake really, this is not going to go down well at all," he sighed, during a chat with Fearne Cotton on her
"I think I said one day that about 50 per cent of the population gets it. .
"So I obviously learned that and said that, you know, everybody gets this.
"So is it not better to get it out of the way early when you're fitter, stronger and sort of more healthy, rather than having it in your sort of 50s?"
Fearne said she knew what Gary meant, that he was being "pragmatic", to which he replied: "I'm being pragmatic and saying, is this not a win?
"You know what I mean?
"I was putting it into sort of like a box of, let's try and think of this as a positive, because you can't stop it.
"It's happening, and maybe it'll be all the quicker for you, and that actually you'll be able to see the positives of having it younger."
But "that didn't really go down that well", Gary admitted, adding it "wasn't perceived well".
Gary went on to say he's realised that maybe he wasn't as "supportive" to Emma as he "should have been".
"For me it was new, because I didn't know that this was going to happen," he said.
"I'd not even thought about it, being honest with you.
"And that's something again, that is obviously wrong.
"I think that men should know about it."
So when it came to the "early days" of Emma going through the menopause, he "didn't know what was going on".
"And you become quite frustrated as well because you're thinking, what's wrong?" he said.
The menopause is a transitional period all women go through in mid-life.
Hormones related to the reproductive system deplete namely oestrogen, over a period of time.
This doesn’t just cause periods to stop. Sex hormones act all over the body, from the brain, skin, vagina and more.
Therefore, dozens of symptoms affect all areas of the body, to varying degrees.
Women’s experiences of menopause vary greatly. While some breeze through it, others’ lives are significantly impacted. It can feel as though it lasts a couple of years, or for decades.
It cannot be predicted how each woman will fare.
When is menopause?
Perimenopause is when symptoms start but periods have not yet stopped, although they will be irregular. This can start in the early 40s.
Menopause is when periods have completely stopped for a year. The average age this happens is 51, but it can be any time from 45 to 55, according to the NHS.
The term ‘menopause’ is used to describe the experience overall.
Menopause before the age of 45 is called early menopause, affecting five per cent of women. Menopause before the age of 40 is called premature menopause, affecting one per cent of women before 40 and 0.1 per cent of women under 30.
This may happen for no clear reason, but also as a result of surgery, genetics or medications.
A year after that the final period, a woman is considered to be entering the post-menopausal stage.
How does it impact a woman’s life?
The menopause can be an extremely testing time in a woman’s life and for those around her.
The body is going through a significant change, and the symptoms that come with it can feel alien, with women sometimes describing a loss of sense of self.
Physical symptoms include hot flushes (a sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest), difficulty sleeping, night sweats, heart palpitations, headaches, muscle and joint aches, weight skin, skin changes, reduced libido, vaginal dryness and more.
Symptoms affecting mental health or cognition include brain fog, memory loss, low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem and irritation.
There are ways to manage symptoms and cope with menopause - and women need to know that they are not alone in facing it.
Medication, such as HRT or oestrogen gel, can help attack the symptoms.
However, experts often say it needs a rounded approach incorporating good lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and less alcohol.
Many women report that their life began after menopause after it drew them to a healthier way of living.
However, the huge burden it can have - on work, family life and more - is important for society to recognise, as adapting policies at work, for example, can make it easier for women to stick with their job.
Read more about menopause on The Sun's Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign.
"Just, I remember saying, I used to walk in the house and Emma was always really caring, kind, warm when you walk into the house.
"And when you walked into the house, come home from the office, the reception wasn't very good.
"Do you know what I mean? It was like the first thing in the morning, the last thing...
"It became quite difficult, although I felt those times were quite sort of difficult and they became less enjoyable."
