Menopause Relationships

“When your partner goes through menopause,
different hormonal changes will affect their body,
health, energy levels and mood”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Relationships Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopause Lovers/Partners/Spouses
  • Menopause Relationships

Menopause

How may menopause impact on a woman’s relationships?

In Information for Partners the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“When your partner goes through menopause, different hormonal changes will affect their body, health, energy levels and mood. They may also have different emotions about coming to the end of their reproductive years.

While every woman’s experience is different, it’s a good idea to learn about menopause and related symptoms so you can support them through this time”.2

Menopause Symptoms

What are some menopause symptoms?

In Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: Symptoms the JH explain:

“Symptoms can include any of the following:

  • Hot flushes
  • Night sweats
  • Irregular periods
  • Problems with falling asleep, staying asleep and sleep quality
  • Breast tenderness
  • Itchy/crawly/dry skin
  • Exhaustion
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Loss of libido (sex drive – talk to your doctor about sexual function if this concerns you)
  • Migraines
  • More pronounced premenstrual tension
  • Mood changes, such as feeling more teary and irritable. Anxiety may also occur
  • Weight gain, despite no changes to diet or exercise, due to the metabolism slowing down”.3

Sex

Is there an association between sex and menopause relationships?

In Information for Partners: Sex and Menopause the JH elaborate on:

“It’s common for women to have lower sex drive (libido) during menopause. This could be due to many things, including changing hormone levels, vaginal atrophy, vaginal dryness (which can cause discomfort during sex) and lowered mood and fatigue”.4

In Relationships the JH elaborate on:

“The impact of sexual problems on a relationship can be significant. Painful sex (dyspareunia), problems with libido, physical changes such as menopause can all impact on your sex life and your relationship. Consider having an open discussion with your partner and/or a health professional about how you feel. If you’ve been avoiding sex this can be especially difficult. But if you do find support, it can build intimacy and help you to manage your sexual relationship more honestly. The good news is there are strategies to help you”.5

Menopause or Not

Does menopause cause all sexual problems during this time?

Not necessarily. In Relationships: Relationships & Painful Sex the JH elaborate on:

“For women approaching menopause who are experiencing sexual problems in a relationship, it is helpful to sort out how much is due to the physical symptoms of menopause rather than other sexual issues. It can be difficult to know if menopause influences your relationship with your partner, or if the relationship you have with your partner influences your experience of menopause”.6

Tips for Couples and Partners

What are some tips for couples and partners?

In Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help — Tips for Couples and Partners the JH elaborate on:

“The years surrounding menopause can be difficult for women and families, but supportive communication can help. These tips from Ms Needleman are designed for couples, but some may also apply to women who don’t have a partner.

  • Learn together…
  • Negotiate sex…
  • Maintain connection…
  • Wait for calm….
  • Practise self-care”.7

In Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: Supporting Your Partner Through Perimenopause the JH also elaborate on:

“Tips that can help both of you include:

  • Reading up about menopause…
  • Engaging in non-sexual ‘no strings attached’ physical contact, such as hugs and back rubs…
  • Sleeping alone when necessary…
  • Listening and asking questions….
  • Making comments that show empathy (“that sounds really hard”) and…
  • Not making jokes about her symptoms
  • Reminding your partner you find her attractive and how much you love and value her”.8

Tips for Partners

What are some tips for partners?

In Information for Partners: Tips To Support Your Partner the JH elaborate on:


“There are many things you can do to help your partner through the different stages of menopause.

For example:

  • Listen and be supportive
  • Understand that some (not all) mood changes may be due to menopause
  • Allow your partner to express their feelings, even if you don’t understand them
  • Ask your partner to help you understand their symptoms
  • Encourage your partner to talk about what they need and when they need it
  • Keep an open mind about why your partner may be acting differently
  • Support your partner to make healthy choices, like eating healthy food and reducing alcohol consumption (which can affect menopausal symptoms)
  • Be patient when it comes to sex – and find other ways to be intimate
  • Go with your partner to medical appointments or counselling (if required)”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my relationship?

If you would like help with your relationship, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can decide on who may be the best health care provider to help you.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Relationships?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Relationships?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. BMS Statement on Testosterone
  3. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  4. Contraception and the Menopause
  5. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  6. Don’t Let the ‘Seven-Year Itch’ Sabotage Your Relationship
  7. Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
  8. Dr. Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
  9. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  10. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  11. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  12. Headaches, Migraines and the Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  13. Hot Flashes
  14. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  15. Information for Partners
  16. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  17. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated
  18. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause]
  19. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing [+ Video: Menopause Only Affects You Physically!]
  20. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing and Intimacy During and After Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
  21. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
  22. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  23. Libido: Managing & Treating Low Libido
  24. Loss of Libido
  25. Low Sex Drive In Women
  26. Many Older Women Have Active Sex Lives, But Menopause Can Interfere
  27. Menopause
  28. Menopause
  29. Menopause
  30. Menopause
  31. Menopause
  32. Menopause
  33. Menopause
  34. Menopause Explained
  35. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  36. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
  37. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 1. What Is Menopause?
  38. Menopause Ruining Your Sex Life?
  39. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  40. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  41. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  42. Menopause and Depression: Is There A Link?
  43. Menopause and Mental Health
  44. Menopause – Fact Sheet
  45. Menopause – Multilingual Facts Sheet
  46. Menopause: Menopause and Continence
  47. Mood and the Menopause
  48. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Erectile Dysfunction/Sexual Enhancement
  49. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  50. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
  51. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  52. Night Sweats
  53. Questions To Ask Your GP About Menopause
  54. Perimenopause
  55. Perimenopause
  56. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  57. Perimenopause – Fact Sheet
  58. Postmenopause
  59. Preparing for Menopause
  60. Relate.org.uk [Relate The Relationship People]
  61. Relationships
  62. Relationships.org.au [Relationships Australia]
  63. Relationships: Relationships & Libido – Talking With Your Partner
  64. Relationships: Relationships & Libido – What Can You Do About Desire Discrepancy?
  65. Relationships: Relationships & Painful Sex
  66. Sexual Health: Sexual Health for Lesbian and Bisexual Women
  67. Sexually Transmitted Infections, All You Need To Know – Podcast
  68. Stages of Menopause
  69. Supporting A Loved One Through Menopause
  70. Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
  71. Symptoms of Menopause
  72. Testosterone and the Menopause
  73. The MATE Survey: Men’s Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Menopause and Their Role In Partners’ Menopausal Transition
  74. The Menopause
  75. The Menopause Is Affecting Our Relationship, How Do I Talk To My Partner?
  76. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  77. Understanding Menopause – Booklet
  78. Understanding Premature & Early Menopause – Booklet
  79. Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  80. Vaginal Dryness
  81. Vaginal Dryness
  82. Video: Researchers Emphasize Normalization of Menopause
  83. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  84. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  85. Video Series-2023
  86. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: How Do I Deal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynaecological Cancer
  87. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
  88. “We’re Just Tired”: Influences on Sexual Activity Among Male-Partnered Women In Midlife; A Mixed Method Study
  89. Webinars: Previous – Reproductive Conditions and Consequences for Menopausal Health and Management
  90. What Are the 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
  91. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  92. What Happens If A Woman Takes Viagra?
  93. What Is Menopause?
  94. What Is Menopause?
  95. What Is Menopause?
  96. What To Do If You Feel Like You’re Walking on Eggshells In Your Relationship
  97. What To Expect In Each Stage of Menopause
  98. When Sex Hurts – Podcast [Vaginismus and Vulvodynia]
  99. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  100. Yes, You Can Have Better Sex In Midlife and In the Years Beyond

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Information for Partners. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/information-for-partners Accessed: 20 March 2023
  2. Information for Partners. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/information-for-partners Accessed: 20 March 2023
  3. Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: Supporting Your Partner Through Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 20 March 2023
  4. Information for Partners: Sex and Menopause. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/information-for-partners Accessed: 20 March 2023
  5. Relationships. Last Updated: 10 January 2020| Last Reviewed: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/relationships Accessed: 20 March 2023
  6. Relationships: Relationships & Painful Sex. Last Updated: 10 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/relationships Accessed: 20 March 2023
  7. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help — Tips for Couples and Partners. Last Updated: 21 October 2022 | Last Reviewed: 10 October 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/navigating-menopause-together-how-partners-can-help Accessed: 20 March 2023
  8. Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: Supporting Your Partner Through Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 20 March 2023
  9. Information for Partners: Relationships. Last Updated: 11 November 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/information-for-partners Accessed: 20 March 2023
Topic Last Updated: 20 March 2023 — Topic Last Reviewed: 20 March 2023

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