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Michelle Heaton’s marriage endured ‘dark times’ during early menopause

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