Gabby Logan's son says: 'Stop taking about your sex life'

Her husband Kenny Logan has been open about his battle with prostate cancer - as well as the impact this had on their sex life. 

Yet, Gabby Logan has revealed how the retired Scottish rugby player, 52, 'didn't want to be the poster boy' for the disease.

After being given the all clear in 2023 following surgery to have his prostate removed, Kenny candidly discussed the after-effects of the treatment, saying it left him 'black and blue downstairs' and that his sex life was not 'consistent'.

Thanks to his frank admissions, 'so many people' have told the former sportsman that they've been screened for prostate cancer. 

However, Kenny likely didn't want the conversation surrounding his diagnosis - and his sex life - to continue as much as it has, with numerous headlines and follow-on discussions - and even his son, Reuben, 19, has pleaded with his parents to 'stop talking about your sex life'.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Gabby revealed: 'Kenny was keen to talk about it after he'd had his operation, because he felt very grateful, because he indirectly discovered his prostate cancer from listening to an episode of [my] The Mid.Point podcast. 

'And he said, "I had no knowledge about this, and I was so oblivious to this, the fact that it's so much more common in men who are 50, this is the age, basically, to get yourselves tested. 

'And so he wanted to talk about it on an episode of The Mid.Point. And so we agreed we'd do that afterwards, but we did some clips along the way. And he did say, "Look, I want to do this, but I don't want to be like a poster boy for prostate cancer."'

Sports presenter Gabby explained how her husband felt that after the podcast, 'he feels like it's done, but of course, then conversations keep coming up afterwards, and as the kids would say, as Reuben said, "I think it's great you've talked about Dad's prostate cancer. Now stop talking about your sex life."'

She continued: 'I guess my kids are used to the fact that we've kind of been in the public eye, if you like, but they don't really want us to go into the kind of machinations of our sex lives, which I respect, and, I totally agree with.' 

Even Kenny's mother commented on the topic, with the BBC host revealing: 'His mum was like, "Oh, you're in the paper today talking about your sex lives again". And he was like, "well, it's not really that, Mum. It was about prostate cancer."

However, for Gabby, she felt proud that her husband was discussing the issues and symptoms surrounding the cancer and the treatment of it. 

The star added that 'talking about the realities of having prostate cancer and the risks of your functionality not being as good or going completely' was 'a big emotional thing to deal with'.

Gabby went on to say: 'I think it is important to talk about, because there are lots of other things that can happen to men in midlife that affect that and and how it affects your relationship, and how it affects your feelings about yourself, all those things I think will be affecting a lot of men.  

'And I think the more people can talk openly with their partners about things like that, the better it will be for them to be able to deal with it.'

She praised her husband for being 'incredibly open', saying: 'I'm really proud that he has talked about that because the feedback we've had has been so lovely.'

The sports presenter also admitted how her shocked husband didn't 'associate' prostate cancer with himself prior to his diagnosis.

'He was kind of like, "What? How? I'm really fit and young. How can that be?... He had no symptoms, like literally nothing.'

Kenny's prostate cancer was discovered after he'd gone to the doctor to check his testosterone levels.

Speaking to The Telegraph in 2023, Kenny said: 'Whether it be my dyslexia, my relationship, IVF, we’ve always been quite open. So, I was quite happy to talk about erectile dysfunction and all these other things because I was like, "It is a symptom".'

Kenny went on: 'From a sexual point of view, it’s not consistent. As the surgeon said to me, this could take 18 months. Within a month, I was getting movement, where he says, "That’s amazing". So it’s just not as consistent. The beauty is you can take a tablet and it changes things.'

The former sportsmen, who has been married to Gabby for over 20 years and share two children together, explained that his brave honesty was motivated by his desire to help other people.

Reiterating the need for all men his age to get checked, he said: 'If I can help one person, that’d be great. But I’ve probably helped a lot of people with the coverage it had.'

Then in July, Gabby told The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio about her sex life with husband Kenny, after he had his prostate removed. 

She said they had to have a discussion about him potentially not having an erection again because that can be affected after treatment. 

Gabby confirmed that for them, it eventually came back but admitted that she wasn't that 'patient' about it. 

Speaking about an episode of The Mid.Point podcast she recorded with former rugby international Kenny about life post-prostate, Gabby said: 'It's Kenny and I talking frankly about what was going to happen. Because there is a big risk of functionality and not being there.

'Erectile function can be massively affected and it might not come back. Kenny was very lucky and eventually it did, but it took a while. His wife wasn't as patient as she might have been.

'I think the reason why I wanted to talk about it candidly was because, of course, if you've been together with somebody for a long time, and that's a big part of your relationship then it is something that is going to affect the dynamics.

'It's huge. I'm trying not to use the wrong words. It's huge. He was obviously wanting us to be the couple that we were before and obviously was facing up to this potential huge physical change.'

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

How many people does it kill?

More than 11,800 men a year - or one every 45 minutes - are killed by the disease in Britain, compared with about 11,400 women dying of breast cancer.

It means prostate cancer is behind only lung and bowel in terms of how many people it kills in Britain. 

In the US, the disease kills 26,000 men each year.

Despite this, it receives less than half the research funding of breast cancer and treatments for the disease are trailing at least a decade behind.

How many men are diagnosed annually?

Every year, upwards of 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK - more than 140 every day.   

How quickly does it develop? 

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS. 

If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of 'watchful waiting' or 'active surveillance' may be adopted. 

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.

But if it is diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.

Thousands of men are put off seeking a diagnosis because of the known side effects from treatment, including erectile dysfunction.

Tests and treatment

Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, with accurate tools only just beginning to emerge. 

There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.

Doctors struggle to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumours, making it hard to decide on treatment.

Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.

But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result are usually given a biopsy which is also not fool-proof. 

Scientists are unsure as to what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and a lack of exercise are known risks. 

Anyone with any concerns can speak to Prostate Cancer UK's specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org

Elsewhere, speaking to FEMAIL, Gabby revealed how the perimenopause left her 'short-tempered' and 'snappy' with her family - as she praised her husband for being 'tolerant' with her.

The sports presenter opened up about her perimenopausal symptoms and how Kenny, who she wed in 2001, struggled to recognise the 'shouty' woman his 'mellow' wife had turned into. 

Aged 47, Gabby was diagnosed as perimenopausal after a blood test found her hormone levels had dropped dramatically. Perimenopause is the time from the start of menopausal symptoms until after a woman has experienced her last period.

'I didn't feel like me,' admitted the BBC presenter, who said her energy levels suffered. 'But now I look back "Oh, that's why I was like that"... it started to kind of dawn on me that a lot of this was to do with what was going on with perimenopause.'

The mother-of-two, who shares 19-year-old twins Reuben and Lois with her husband, also explained how, when she looks back now, her 'short-temper' is what she's 'more embarrassed about'.

'It just felt like I was getting really ratty about stuff, really quickly, that previously wouldn't have bothered me,' admitted Gabby. 

'And obviously there's a perfect storm, because you've got teenagers who can be quite annoying, and then you've got mum whose attention and whose temper is, you know, on a thread.

'I look back now and think, "Oh, I really shouldn't have shouted about that. I shouldn't have got upset about that. But it's easy to kind of, I think, at the time, to think that that's just the state you're in.'

The presenter revealed how she feels 'so much calmer now and so much more able to deal with all those things', adding: 'I think if I had that knowledge that "this, oh, this is perimenopause", I might have cut myself a bit of slack.'

Gabby went on to praise her family, insisting her husband Kenny is likely 'very grateful that I'm probably more mellow now than I was before'.

She continued: 'I look back and my kids and my husband were actually probably really tolerant... my husband was probably thinking, "why is she getting so up about this?" This probably wasn't the kind of the person that he'd married.'

What is the perimenopause? 

The perimenopause is the stage before the menopause. 

During this time your hormones start to change but your periods have not yet stopped for good. 

It usually happens in women between the ages of 45 and 60 and can last for a few months or several years.

During the perimenopause, your hormone levels change and your ovaries start to produce fewer eggs. 

Once you haven’t had a period for 12 months or more, you’ve officially reached the menopause. 

Symptoms are caused by hormonal changes and for some people these symptoms can affect their daily lives. 

Source: Bupa 

Following her diagnosis, the BBC host began a regime of HRT and has since dedicated her efforts to helping raise awareness about the menopause.

In 2020, she launched The Mid.Point podcast, where she chats to celebrity guests and experts about the challenges and dilemmas faced when you reach middle age. 

But Gabby admitted she had 'never heard of the word perimenopause' before her own diagnosis.

She said: 'I had never heard of the word perimenopause... my mum's generation definitely wouldn't have used that word. 

'And I think it's just shows you how far we've come in understanding the menopause itself.'

But the presenter suggested that awareness hasn't gone far enough; in 2021, a survey by the non-profit group Menopause Support found 41 per cent of UK medical schools do not have mandatory menopause training on the curriculum. 

In 2023, research indicated that more than 90 per cent of women were never taught about the menopause at school, while nearly two-thirds only started looking for information when they began to experience symptoms. 

This is something Gabby can relate to, as she explained: 'I remember being really educated about puberty at school, because it was part of our growth and development. 

'But obviously with menopause, it's been a kind of, see what happens, you know, suck it and see, let's just leave it and you know, you'll be fine. 

'A lot of women are fine, but a lot of women aren't fine. And so why should we let that happen? That doesn't seem very fair.'

In an effort to raise awareness, even in her own home, Gabby chatted to her husband and children about the menopause and the symptoms. 

She explained: 'We're a very open family. So it was easy to have the conversations with them and to try and make them realise...  Look, you know, just because somebody is this age, first of all, doesn't mean they're finished.

'They're not on the scrap heap but also, these changes take a few years, might take a bit longer, but then they come through that. So it's not like they're always going to be feeling that way.

'So hopefully they quite quickly, I think, understood that I was still me, this was just a kind of a version of me that was going through a few changes.'

Ahead of Menopause Awareness Month, Gabby has joined up with the UK’s No. 1 menopause supplement brand, Menopace, to champion the message of living life to the fullest during mid-life.

Amid the growing trend amongst mid-life women to seek out new challenges during the menopause, she discussed her 'mid-life bucket list' - which includes learning another language or playing a musical instrument, as well as visiting India.

She explained how she wanted to keep using 'that part of your brain that is perhaps a little bit likely to get rusty if you don't keep using it'.

Speaking about why she feels it's so important to have goals in mid-life, the presenter added: 'If you're looking for healthy longevity, then purpose, and having that connectivity is really important, and those things come through also learning, so, making sure that you don't live an isolated life.'

The presenter also explained how she liked to add physical challenges to her 'mid-life bucket list' such as half-marathons. 

She said: 'It's about feeling good in 10, 15, years time as well, you know? I don't want to be 60 and be looking to slow down work, and then feeling, "oh, I'm full of aches and pains and I can't do this"

'Because there's loads of things I still want to do in terms of challenges, like hikes and things like that, that I might not have time to do in the next few years, but I don't want to get to 60 and 70 when I've got the time to do them and not be able to do them. 

'So it's a lot about now, but it's also about the future and about making sure that I'm as fit and able as I can be. We are all living longer, and I want to live longer, well. I don't want to just live longer for the sake of living longer.'

Gabby, who also enjoys open water swimming as one of her physical challenges, has joined a wave of adventurous women over 40 who are embracing bold activities as part of their 'mid-life' bucket lists.

From getting a tattoo to trying pole dancing, a new nationwide survey of 1,000 British women has revealed that middle-aged women are increasingly turning to thrill-seeking experiences to make the most of life.

However, despite the more exciting activities highlighted by the research, taking care of one’s health at this stage of life remains the top priority. Topping the mid-life bucket list, 44 per cent admitted that managing a five-a-day fruit and veg diet is their most important goal.

The research conducted by Menopace, ahead of World Menopause Awareness Month in October, outlines a definitive list of activities women aspire to achieve in their mid-life. 

Gabby, ambassador for Menopace, has always been a keen cold-water swimmer and took the opportunity to dive in, highlighting a growing trend for mid-life women to seek out fresh challenges that benefit both mental and physical health.

A dream holiday to a tropical paradise like the Maldives or Seychelles ranks second, with 36 per cent of respondents envisioning it as a must-do. 

Other popular activities include learning a new language, spicing up their sex life, and having a holiday romance.

Over half (55 per cent) of women said the main reason for tackling these ambitious activities is the desire to make the most of their life, while 45 per cent highlighted the sheer fun of taking on new challenges. 

Furthermore, 38 per cent want to look back on their lives without regrets, while 37 per cent appreciate the mental health benefits that come with such experiences. 

Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) are eager to prove that age is just a number, and 18 per cent feel it’s finally their turn to focus on themselves after years of working or raising children.

Gabby said: 'It’s so important for women to feel empowered to explore new passions, whether it’s taking a cold water swim, travelling to a dream destination, or simply putting their health and well-being first. 

'Life doesn’t stop with menopause – in fact, many women feel like it's just the beginning.'

The survey also reveals the positive impact of menopause on women’s outlook on life, with over a third (38 per cent) saying they gained a new lease on life after going through menopause, and 40 per cent admitted that their health and well-being only became a top priority once they entered this stage. 

For 25 per cent, this meant making key changes to their daily routine to support their well-being.

Top 10 Mid-Life Bucket List Activities for Women Over 40: 

1. Maintain 5 fruit and veg a day/ healthy eating (44%)

2. Take a trip to a tropical paradise (36%)

3. Walk 10k steps a day (34%)

4. Learn a new language (26%)

5. Grow own vegetables (25%)

6. Go on a cross-country road trip (20%)

7. Open water swimming (20%)

8. Travel solo to a new country (19%)

9. Take a genealogy test and explore ancestry (19%))

10. Write a book (18%)

Gabby Logan, Ambassador for Menopace, the UK’s no1 supplement for before, during and after the menopause. Gabby takes Menopace Max, RRP £24.95, available at menopace.com.