Michelle Heaton and her husband endured "dark times" during the menopause.

Michelle Heaton

Michelle Heaton

The former Liberty X star went through the menopause aged 35 after undergoing a hysterectomy to reduce the risk of cancer, and her husband Hugh Hanley admitted it has been difficult for the loved up couple and their family.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, he said: "In the last five years we've had some dark times.

"There have been days when I've worried about going to work and leaving Michelle with the kids because she's been a loose cannon."

Hugh - who has children Faith, seven, and AJ, five, with the 39-year-old singer - added he has still been struggling because he doesn't know how to help.

He explained: "She's the best in the world, she's a great mum, she's a great wife. But you question your relationship, you question... what can I do to make it right?

"And there's just been... no solutions. It's hard.... I don't know how to move forward."

The couple opened up about the experiences in a report about the menopause from a man's perspective, and she took him to meet other men whose partners were also going through difficult menopauses.

He said: "I'm not overly open, but listening to the other guys talk is quite insightful because it's not something you go [into] with mates at work or in the gym. You don't sit down and go, 'How's your Mrs getting on with menopause?' "

Meanwhile, Michelle previously revealed the couple have an "exciting and spontaneous" sex life despite her libido dropping during the early menopause.

She said: "Our sex life is great - we keep things exciting and spontaneous. We don't have a 'sex night' though - we make it happen whenever we want. I couldn't be handling an organised sex night."


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