MPs have criticised Lancashire Police's “deeply troubling" decision to release information about missing Nicola Bulley's private life to the public.
Detectives on Wednesday said the mother-of-two had suffered with “some significant issues with alcohol" in the past, which had resurfaced over recent months.
They added that the drinking problems were brought on by her “ongoing struggles with the menopause".
MPs questioned whether the information about the mortgage advisor was relevant more than two weeks after she vanished while walking her dog in St Michael's on Wyre.
Yvette Cooper said she would be contacting Lancashire Police about the reasons for putting out the deeply personal statement.
The Shadow Home Secretary told Sky News: "It is really unusual and I do have a lot of questions and concerns," I would want to speak directly to Lancashire Police about their reasons for doing so. "
Police had earlier on Wednesday said Ms Bulley was classed as a “high-risk" missing person immediately, after her partner Paul Ansell reported her disappearance, due to “specific vulnerabilities”.
Ms Bulley was last seen at 9.10am on January 27 after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. She then logged onto a work call while walking the family's springer spaniel Willow.
A statement from the force later on Wednesday said: “Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul and the family that Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months.
“This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family.
“As a result of those issues, a response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Nicola’s home address on January 10.
“No-one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated.
“It is an unusual step for us to take to go into this level of detail about someone’s private life, but we felt it was important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation.”
Walthamstow Labour MP Stella Creasy said: “The decision to disclose this level of detail on a missing person’s private life, with no evidence that this is assisting in finding her, is deeply troubling.
“The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation.”
Alicia Kearns, Tory chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "I am deeply uncomfortable with the police releasing Nicola Bulley's so-called ‘vulnerabilities’ on menopause and alcohol.
“I struggle to ascertain how this will assist police in their search and investigations.
“I do see how it would assist those wishing to victim-blame or diminish."
Former chief crown prosecutor for the North West, Nazir Afzal, said the statement "should not have been issued" as it gives "fuel to the victim blamers, armchair sleuths and conspiracy theorists".
