Coronation Street star Ellie Leach has been speaking to Metro.co.uk about her character Faye Windass going through early menopause.

For Faye, the diagnosis came shortly after she and partner Craig (Colson Smith) decided to start trying for a baby.

This led to problems within the relationship as Craig – as lovely as he is – attempted to help his partner but ended up smothering her, sorting things like meal plans and specially designed pyjamas so she didn’t get too hot in the evenings.

Ellie, who’s played Faye since 2011, has done a lot of research into this subject and is proud to be taking the storyline on and helping spark a conversation on the matter.

‘People know about the menopause, but it’s not really spoken about much, especially not early menopause’, she told Metro.co.uk.

‘People don’t realise – I didn’t even realise – how young it can happen to women. So yeah, I have done a lot of research and found out a lot. It’s been really interesting and great to be able to play out a story like that.’

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The statistics state that approximately 1% of women under the age of 40 will experience it early, with 90% of the females not having an official confirmation as to why it began at perhaps ‘the wrong time’.

‘Obviously [as part of the storyline] Craig and Faye have had their ups and downs’, Ellie added, reflecting on the journey between the characters so far.  

‘With all the recent mood swings and stuff, Faye’s been quite horrible to Craig and I don’t like it! I’m like, “this isn’t real! Please don’t think I’m being nasty to you!” I don’t like being nasty to him but obviously we know it’s not real.

Faye’s diagnosis left her reeling (Picture: ITV)

‘We’re besties and it’s so nice to be able to work with him.’

Ellie was speaking ahead of World Menopause Day – October 18 – which aims to raise awareness of the menopause and support options to improve health and wellbeing for women.

In recent years, the menopause has been something that’s spoken about a lot in the media – a vital tool that can reach millions of people all over the world and help encourage conversations in our own homes about different topics.

Someone that’s been on our screens recently making a lot of noise about the period in every woman’s life is TV presenter Davina McCall.

She has been incredibly open and honest about the symptoms she experienced pre and during her menopause and even fronts a TV show called Sex, Myths and the Menopause – something that got people talking about different aspects of this phase of life.

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Faye was recently diagnosed with early menopause and told she wouldn’t be able to carry a baby.