THE female menopause, with its hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings, offers rich pickings for jokes and comedy sketches. But this is the kind of thing Angela Rippon is keen to stamp out as she spearheads a new campaign to help women going through the menopause.

The TV celebrity, who claims to have "sailed through her menopausal years", is calling for a new, positive attitude towards the mid-life changes for women, and to raise awareness of both the symptoms and treatments of the menopause.

Last Monday, an immaculately-dressed Angela Rippon arrived at The Gazette offices to promote awareness of the first-ever Southern Counties Menopause Day.

Ms Rippon talked passionately about the social stigma attached to the menopause, and the way she feels it should be viewed.

She said: "For years, the menopause has been one of those subjects that has been the butt of jokes, and people just wouldn't discuss it in public. As a result, there has been a kind of taboo associated with it.

"If it's going to be embarrassing and people are going to make fun of you, why would you want to talk about it? So, I think there's been a feeling of isolation for a lot of women."

Ms Rippon acknowledged that many women were confused by the amount of information available on menopause treatments, including the controversial Hormone Replacement Therapy, but concluded: "You should think positively about it. The menopause may be life changing, but it's not life threatening."

Ms Rippon said she successfully managed her own menopause, largely by combining a positive mental attitude and healthy lifestyle. She used HRT for four years, primarily because of a lactose intolerance which meant she was particularly susceptible to the brittle bones disease osteoporosis, but she said it also coincided with her menopause.

However, after four years she switched to natural alternatives. She now takes calcium and vitamin D supplements, and Novogen Redclover, which is a natural food supplement high in isoflavones, plant chemicals that act in a similar way to female hormones.

"As far as HRT is concerned, I am not an advocate of it," she said.

"But I am not someone who would stop women going on it either. I was on it for four years and I was fine. I think it's terribly important for women not to be afraid of making a decision about their health."

In talking about what she hoped the campaign would achieve, Ms Rippon said: "Through the campaign we try to show women they are not on their own. We talk about attitude of mind. But what we also try and get across is that there are so many different ways of managing the menopause.

"I think the important thing about being a woman in the 21st century is that there is so much information available.

"Medical science has made so many amazing discoveries and advances that really we should take advantage of that. If women are in a position where they are able to absorb a lot of that information, then they can make an informed choice about how, as a woman, they want to deal with their menopause."

Ms Rippon advised women to ask their doctor or practice nurse for details of their nearest menopause clinic, and to call the Novogen Menopause Helpline on 0845 303230 for a free leaflet and sample of Novogen Redclover.