It’s a strange thing, this mid-life, don’t you think? It’s harder than puberty, by miles. But I’m glad we’re all talking about it. The stigma is being lifted, so that our daughters and granddaughters don’t have to suffer like our mothers and grandmothers did. Being the guinea pigs to smoothe the way for the women of the future is not easy in itself, but it’s neccessary valuable work, and we do it willingly.

At the same time as I’m slapping HRT patches onto my own thighs, I am also sticking them o...