âThere are many menopause symptoms that may impact on a womanâs relationships, especially the one with her intimate partnerâ.1
Umbrella
What may the Menopause Relationships Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Partners
- Relationships
Menopause
How may menopause impact on a womanâs relationships?
In Information for Partners: When Your Partner Is Going Through Menopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health (JH) elaborate on:
âThere are many menopause symptoms that may impact on a womanâs relationships, especially the one with her intimate partner. It is important that you have some understanding of what is happening to your partner and realise that she is experiencing some major life and body changes that are out of her control. It will take time for her to work out the best way to approach and manage menopause and her symptomsâ.2
Menopause Symptoms
What are some menopause symptoms?
In Perimenopause â Fact Sheet: Symptoms the JH explain:
- 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 â 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 downâ.3
Sex
Is there an association between sex and menopause relationships?
In Information for Partners: Sex & Menopause the JH elaborate on:
âA key issue for couples and relationships may be that your partner is no longer keen to have sex. This can be for a range of reasons related to menopause symptoms. One key symptom is a dry vagina: Lower levels of oestrogen directly affect a woman’s vagina and can make it thinner, drier and less elastic. Also, testosterone levels fall gradually with age and this can have an impact on a womanâs level of desire at menopauseâ.4
In Menopause: Relationships, Sex and Contraception and the Menopause [Video Interview Stories] Healthtalk.org elaborate on:
âIn any relationship there are times when couples face challenges. The menopause can be one such time. Faced with a loss of sex drive and other symptoms which make them feel hot, anxious and uncomfortable, women may find they no longer want to have sex as much as they did before the menopause. Communication can become strained, with partners feeling rejected and at a loss to know how best to support their menopausal partner. Women told us how their symptoms affected their relationships, and about sex and contraception during the menopauseâ.5
In Relationships the JH elaborate on:
âThe 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 youâ.6
Menopause or Not
Does menopause cause all sexual problems during this time?
Not necessarily. In Relationships: Relationships & Painful Sex the JH elaborate on:
âFor 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 menopauseâ.7
Suggestions
What are some suggestions for partners?
In Information for Partners: Relationships the JH elaborate on:
- Listening is often better than trying to fix things…
- Understanding âmenopauseâ…
- Menopause is an individual experience…
- Understanding the priorities…
- Changes you might make…
- Consider going to the doctor together…
- If there are relationship problems, try to discuss how youâre feeling…
- What else is going on…
- Communicate…
- Itâs not about you….
- It may not be menopause…
- Seek help from a range of practitioners if appropriate…â.8
Tips
What are some tips that can help?
In Perimenopause â Fact Sheet: Supporting Your Partner Through Perimenopause the JH elaborate on:
- Reading up about menopause…
- Engaging in non-sexual âno strings attachedâ physical contact, such as hugs and back rubs…
- Sleeping alone when necessary…
- Listening and asking questions….
- Making comments that show empathy (âthat sounds really hardâ) and…
- Not making jokes about her symptoms
- Reminding your partner you find her attractive and how much you love and value herâ.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.
In Marriage Counseling: Procedure Details â Why Itâs Done the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
âMarriage counseling can help couples in all types of intimate relationships â regardless of sexual orientation or marriage statusâ.10
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Relationships?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
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 Directoryâs Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.- 5 of the Most Common Questions About Menopause
- 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
- Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Contraception for Perimenopausal Women
- Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners â Womenâs Profiles
- Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? Hereâs What You Need To Know
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Large print Fact Sheets â Vaginal Estrogen Therapy
- Family Relationships Online [Australia]
- Five Things You Didnât Know About Vaginas & Vulvas â Free Health Article
- For Men Factsheets
- For Men and Women Factsheets
- For Women Factsheets
- HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Headaches, Migraines and the Menopause Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
- Hot Flashes: Manage Without Medication?
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?
- How Long Does Menopause Last? â Ask Dr Jean
- Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
- Intercourse Was Becoming Painful â Ask Dr Jean
- Letâs Talk About Vulvas
- Low Sex Drive In Women
- Living With Anxiety [+ Videos]
- Marriage Counseling
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Managing the Symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause Symptoms and Relief
- Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
- Menopause â Fact Sheet
- Menopause â Multilingual Facts Sheet
- Menopause â What Are the Symptoms? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Menopause â Will It Affect My Sex Life? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Menopause, Perimenopause and Postmenopause
- Menopause: Advice To Other Women About the Menopause [Video Interview Stories]
- Menopause: Advice To Partners About the Menopause [Video Interview Stories]
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management â Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Emotions and the Menopause: Mood Swings, Anxiety and Depression [Video Interview Stories]
- Menopause: Information for Partners
- Menopause: Loss of Fertility [Video Interview Stories]
- Menopause: Menopause and Continence
- Menopause: Menopause â Hormone Treatments
- Menopause: Relationships, Sex and Contraception and the Menopause [Video Interview Stories]
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Erectile Dysfunction/Sexual Enhancement
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
- Night Sweats
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause â Fact Sheet
- Recent Review Confirms Safety of Low Dose Vaginal Estrogen: July 2019
- Relate.org.uk [Relate The Relationship People]
- Relationship Advice
- Relationship Issues
- Relationships
- Relationships.org.au [Relationships Australia]
- Relationships: Relationships & Libido â Talking With Your Partner
- Relationships: Relationships & Libido â What Can You Do About Desire Discrepancy?
- Relationships: Relationships & Painful Sex
- Self-Care and Kindness: Finding A Solution To the Trigger of Our Anxiety
- Sex & Relationships
- Sex & Relationships: Sex Menopause [+ Video: 5 Things To Know About Sex In Later Life]
- Sex and Relationships After the Menopause
- Sexual Health: Female Sexual Problems
- Sexual Health: Male Sexual Problems
- Sexual Health: Sexual Health for Lesbian and Bisexual Women
- Supporting Women Through Menopause
- Symptoms of Menopause
- Testosterone Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- The MATE Survey: Menâs Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Menopause and Their Role In Partnersâ Menopausal Transition
- The Menopause Is Affecting Our Relationship, How Do I Talk To My Partner?
- Understanding Menopause â Booklet
- Understanding Premature & Early Menopause â Booklet
- Urogenital Atrophy Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Urogenital Problems
- Vaginal Atrophy
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It? Iâm postmenopausal and often have vaginal dryness, which makes intercourse painful. Is there anything I can do about it?
- Vaginal Laser Therapy
- Video Series-2019 â Talking To Your Clinician About Sexual Health Concerns
- Video Series-2020 â How To Talk To Your Primary Care Clinician About Your Overall Health
- Video Series-2020 â What You Need To Know About Cognition and Mood Changes
- Voicesforpfd.org [Voices for Pelvic Floor Disorders]
- Vulvovaginal Symptoms After Menopause
- Will Menopause Affect My Sex Life? [+ Video]
Womenâs Sexual Problems
- Womenâs Wellness: Menopause Misconceptions [+ Video]
- Womenâs Wellness: Painful Sex After Menopause
- Womenâs Wellness: Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Health Problems
- Womenâs Wellness: Treating Hot Flashes Without Hormones [+ Video]
- World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2018 â Patient Information Leaflet: Sexual Wellbeing After Menopause
- World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2019 â Patient Information Leaflet: Testosterone for Women At Midlife [Multiply Languages]
- World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2020 â Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
- Your Sexual Health
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Information for Partners: When Your Partner Is Going Through Menopause. Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 03 March 2014. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/information-for-partners Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Information for Partners: When Your Partner Is Going Through Menopause. Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 03 March 2014. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/information-for-partners Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Perimenopause â Fact Sheet: : Supporting Your Partner Through Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Information for Partners: Sex & Menopause. Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 03 March 2014. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/information-for-partners Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Menopause: Relationships, Sex and Contraception and the Menopause. Last Reviewed: July 2018. Healthtalk.org https://www.healthtalk.org/menopause/relationships-sex-and-contraception-and-the-menopause Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Relationships. Last Updated: 10 January 2020| Last Reviewed: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/relationships Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Relationships: Relationships & Painful Sex. Last Updated: 10 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/relationships Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Information for Partners: Relationships. Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 03 March 2014. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/information-for-partners Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Perimenopause â Fact Sheet: Supporting Your Partner Through Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 17 December 2020
- Marriage Counseling: Basics â Why Itâs Done. 04 November 2017. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/marriage-counseling/about/pac-20385249 Accessed: 17 December 2020