Men and the menopause
This page was co-produced for men by both men and women.
Menopause does not just affect women; it is something that affects everyone. Women make up 51% of the population, and every woman will experience menopause. They will be your partners, family members, colleagues and friends.
Learning more about the Menopause is the best way to support all the women in your life and ultimately it will help you too.
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You are not alone
We surveyed a group of men and asked them to share their experiences. They told us that they have noticed the following changes in the women in their lives:
- Low energy
- Changes in mood
- Lack of motivation
- Painful joints
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- More irritable
- Anxiety
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flushes
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of interest in sex
Every woman is different and will have a different experience of the menopause. If a woman in your life is greatly affected, it stands to reason that you will be too. You may feel helpless, rejected, confused and hurt. At times, it can be difficult to know what to do, but there are things that we can do to help.
Top tips
We men like to offer solutions to fix problems but be mindful that very often women just need to feel supported and understood.
When a woman needs to vent, just be a listening ear and acknowledge their feelings. Try not to interrupt, it’s important that she feels heard.
Your partner may struggle to do the things she has always done, but all of sudden can’t seem to do very easily. Ask if there is anything you can do to help.
There may be some things a woman needs to do to manage her symptoms. For example,
she may open a window in the depths of winter because she is having a hot flush. Her inner temperature regulation may be imbalanced due to a lack of oestrogen. During a hot flush, women report feeling overwhelmed with not only inner heat that they can’t escape, but also feeling emotionally overwhelmed too.
Talk to other male friends/colleagues about the menopause. It’s surprising how much we can all learn by sharing. A useful resource is:
Learning more about the Menopause is a helpful way to increase your understanding and to support the women in your life.
For more information follow the links below:
