Menopause information for partners

What changes happen at menopause?

During perimenopause (the lead-up to menopause), hormonal changes can cause symptoms that affect your partner’s health, energy levels and mood.

Perimenopause usually starts when a woman is in her 40s. On average, it lasts 4 to 6 years, but it can last anywhere from one to 10 years.

Can you get pregnant around the time of menopause?

In the lead-up to menopause, the levels of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone drop, and the ovaries stop releasing eggs. A woman can still get pregnant during perimenopause, but not after menopause.

Your partner may have mixed emotions about coming to the end of their reproductive years.

Common symptoms of menopause

All women experience menopause differently. Some have very few symptoms and others have severe symptoms that affect their daily life.

Common physical symptoms range from irregular periods, hot flushes and night sweats to fatigue and vaginal dryness.

Your partner may also have emotional symptoms, ranging from low mood and anxiety to forgetfulness.

You may feel that leaving your partner alone to deal with this is the best approach, but it’s important to support them during this time.

Sex and menopause

It’s common for women to have lower sex drive (libido) around the time of menopause. This may be due to changing hormone levels, low mood, fatigue and vaginal dryness (which can cause pain during sex).

Tips to support your partner

There are many things you can do to support 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.

You can also:

• 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).