Dawn French has revealed how the menopause ‘robbed’ her of her memory so she has to rely on writing out lists.
The comedian, 60, went through the menopause in her early 50s before having a hysterectomy.
She admitted that since the menopause, her memory has never been the same – but said women must ‘accept’ the changes.
Difficult times: After turning 60 earlier this year, Dawn French has reflected on losing her memory during her menopause
The mother-of-one said: ‘You have to surrender to it, to the experience of it.
‘I found it was a thief of my memory, so I had to write lists to remember stuff – I still do.
‘Physically I found it a challenge – my womb was a mess, so it had to go. But the main thing is you can’t pretend it’s not happening; accept it and, if you need help go and get it.’
The Vicar of Dibley star lost seven stone so she was able to safely have her hysterectomy in 2011 after a cancer scare.
Honest: The Vicar of Dibley star says her memory has never recovered, and she now relies heavily on lists
She encouraged women to seek medical help if they were struggling, telling Prima magazine: ‘Lots of my friends are on HRT patches or pills and there’s so much out there to assist you.
‘I promise that afterwards, there’s life and it’s all fine. I think you can decide how you look at things.’
Doctors were convinced Miss French had uterine cancer, and even before her second test results came through the star had decided to have her uterus removed – calling it ‘defunct’.
‘Defunct’: Dawn had her uterus removed at 54, when doctors were convinced Miss French had uterine cancer
Speaking about the procedure in 2014, she said ‘So my womb and I parted company. Goodbye. When I was due to have my hysterectomy the doc told me that if I could lose some weight before the op, they would be able to do it via ‘key- hole’, and I would recover in three weeks or so.’
She then lost seven and a half stone through diet and exercise, just one year after splitting from husband Lenny Henry.
The comedians separated in 2010 but have remained on good terms since their divorce was finalised the same year.
She recently spoke about the years of horrific racial abuse the couple endured, including people smearing feces on their front door.
Henry, 59, is of Jamaican descent and the former couple share a daughter Billie, 27.
She also revealed how she was able to move on from her 25-year marriage and find love again with Mark Bignell, the chief executive of an addiction charity.
The couple married in 2013 after a 16-month romance.
Moving on: Two years following their split, French went on to remarry Mark Bignell in April 2013
She said: ‘I hope for anyone lonely or divorced, reading about my relationship will help them see there’s always a little door you should keep open in your heart – maybe there’s someone who you can let in some time’.
Her new husband even asked her daughter Billie for permission to marry her, a gesture which she called ‘lovely’.
She added: ‘In these situations, blended families, we all got married to each other. I couldn’t have been with a chap who didn’t put my kid first’.
The comedian is also a stepmother to Bignell’s two adult children from a previous relationship.
Looking foward: Dawn and Lenny Henry were together for 25-years before they split but are now said to be on amicable terms