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Aussie TV favourite opens up about heartbreaking menopause battle – and reveals why it almost ‘broke’ her

BBG News

Shelly Horton is candidly discussing her journey through menopause, in anticipation of publishing a revealing book on the subject.

The host of Today Extra, aged 51, has frequently spoken about her battles with perimenopause. This week, she confided in Stellar that the ailment left her feeling shattered.

As a seasoned advocate for vibrant living, I stand before you today as a beacon of resilience, having navigated through the most challenging periods in life. These trials shattered my being, yet I found the strength within to rise from the ruins and piece myself back together.

During a woman’s late 30s to mid-50s, she may experience perimenopause – a time period leading up to menopause when her hormonal balance begins to shift, resulting in symptoms such as erratic periods and emotional fluctuations.

In the year 2020, when Shelly was admitted to the hospital for a treatment called ablation aimed at halting prolonged bleeding, it was her first encounter with perimenopause – a phase she wasn’t previously aware of.

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Doctors at the time told her that she might have cancer, sending her for an ultrasound. 

When the test results came back negative, her doctors suggested that she might be experiencing high stress levels and recommended that she try picking up a new pastime.

She confessed that she drove home weeping, self-blaming, and for the next nine months, avoided visiting another physician.

Shelly mentioned that consulting her friend, Dr. Ginny Mansberg (a TV doctor), was instrumental in helping her grasp her personal experience and challenge her initial misconceptions about menopause.

She mentioned that she had an image in her mind, one typically associated with older women, of them having grey hair, holding pearls tightly, and fanning themselves,” she explained.

It turns out that perimenopause can go on for about a decade. Given this, it seems I fall within the typical age range.

Since then, Shelly has taken up a passionate role as an advocate, openly discussing her personal experiences at the inaugural parliamentary discussion on menopause.

It marked a significant event when menopause was brought up for discussion in the Australian Parliament for the very first time.

Apart from that, she’s planning to publish a book titled “I’m Your Peri Godmother” this coming week, which delves into her personal experiences and is part of an ongoing initiative aimed at breaking down the stigma surrounding an issue faced by many women.

Following Shelly’s disclosure, it was subsequent when she learned from her physician that a hysterectomy would be necessary, given her persistent heavy bleeding and symptoms associated with perimenopause.

She expressed her astonishment at feeling overpowered and emotional about the topic, as she penned her article for Nine Honey in 2024.

Shelly, who has been with her husband Darren Robinson for more than a decade, mentioned that although she’s never desired to have kids, she’s experienced a sense of loss concerning the removal of her reproductive organ.

She expressed anger in her writing, stating, ‘I’ve chosen not to have children, yet this body part that I’ve never required causes me immense distress.’

‘I’ve joked to friends I want to sell my uterus on eBay – “One uterus. Never used. Still in box!” 

‘Yet, just as I laugh, I also feel a mix of anger, sadness and a sense of betrayal by my own body.’

Shelly emphasized that having a uterus does not make someone a woman, and she urged everyone to reconsider what it means to be a woman, moving beyond the confines of biological roles.

In the past, she’s been forthright about her reasons for not wanting kids with her spouse, and they find fulfillment in nurturing a family of just the two of them and their beloved pets, which are their dogs.

However, Shelly acknowledged that an email from a critic, who referred to Horton as a “heavyweight feminist” and expressed a desire for him to leave television, had unsettled her.

The original message was: ‘I’m really glad you don’t have children, as seeing you off television would make the best Christmas present a man could wish for. Being an obese feminist isn’t something to boast about.’

‘It makes me happy that you don’t have kids, because I’d be thrilled if you were no longer on TV. A man could ask for nothing better at Christmas. Being overweight and a feminist isn’t something to take pride in.’

Another version: ‘I appreciate not having children with you, since I’d love it if you were no longer on TV. That would be the ultimate Christmas gift a man could desire. Being obese and a feminist isn’t something to celebrate.’

On another day, she remarked, “I’m usually not bothered by trolls. Many women working in media receive similar messages.

I’ve been putting in long hours on some major projects, which left me quite exhausted. As a result, I found his behavior particularly irritating. Thank you all for being such great supporters throughout this process – it feels like a comforting embrace. By the way, take that as my response to the email sender,” she concluded.

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2025-07-26 02:52

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