Stacey Solomon, 35, told viewers she fears she is going through early menopause and sought reassurance from her personal physiologist on the latest episode of her family reality series, which returned to screens on Tuesday.
On camera, Solomon said she has been feeling unusually irritable and tired. "I think I'm going through the menopause, I'm perimenopausal, I'm so snappy and tired. I wake up tired, I have eight hours' sleep and I wake up and I'm exhausted," she told her sister, Jemma, during the episode, adding that members of her mother's side of the family experienced menopause early.
Solomon later arranged a meeting with her physiologist, Dr Olly, which her husband, Joe Swash, attended. She told Dr Olly she felt "like I'm drying out" and joked that her ovaries had "said goodbye." She also said her tolerance was "at an all time low" and that if she were through the menopause and therefore could not have more children she would "open an animal sanctuary."
Jemma, who admitted she and her sister are prone to worrying about their health, urged a broader view of Solomon's busy life when Solomon mentioned feeling constantly exhausted: "You've got to remember you have 18 children, 17 dogs, 45 chickens, you work full time, you have a busy life," she said. Solomon told the cameras that her health anxiety increased after the birth of her eldest son, Zach, and that having a medical professional to talk through concerns has helped.
The episode is part of Stacey & Joe, a fly-on-the-wall series filmed at the couple's home, Pickle Cottage, which follows Solomon and Swash juggling careers and family life. The programme features their children, Rex, 5, Rose, 3, and Belle, 2, along with Solomon's sons from previous relationships, Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12. The couple, who married in 2022, have said they aim to show both the positives and the challenges of family life rather than a glamorous image.
Medical information discussed on the show aligns with established guidance about menopause. The menopause is the point when a woman stops having periods and can no longer get pregnant naturally; it typically occurs between about 45 and 55 years of age. Symptoms can start months or even years before periods stop and include irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes such as irritability or anxiety, vaginal dryness and difficulty sleeping. About one in 100 women may experience menopause before age 40, a condition sometimes called premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency.
Solomon's public comments come amid occasional speculation about whether she and Swash will expand their family. Sources quoted by other outlets have said a seventh baby would not surprise friends and family, and that the couple have discussed the possibility. Two years ago, Solomon said she and Swash were not planning to have more children at that time, citing the challenges of parenting while working.
On the programme, Solomon described how family history and age have influenced her concerns and emphasised the role of professional advice in addressing health anxieties. The episode mixed personal discussion about possible perimenopausal symptoms with the couple's ongoing attempt to document the practical realities of life raising a blended family while working in television.