I think any man who has experienced and watched their partner go through the stages of perimenopause and menopause deserve a medal too!
It cannot be easy for Men and also family members to watch as their loved one begins to change because of symptoms of menopause.
It comes as a massive shock to us women, so how do men cope with this change also?
Is this why the Mans cave becomes a retreat for many? To create some space for men to take stock and to have somewhere to escape too?
How can we help men to understand what is happening to our own bodies if we are not informed and supported ourselves within the health profession? Within the workplace is also another issue too. Many women are afraid to talk to their male work colleagues as they are too ashamed and feel uncomfortable to talk to a male about their symptoms that maybe affecting their work and capabilities.
It is important that our generation is open and honest when talking about Perimenopause and Menopause to help other generations and importantly for men to also understand.
The average age for menopause in the Uk is around the age of 51. Perimenopause can begin much sooner as early as mid thirties to the age of 45.
If a woman is under the age of 45 and has experienced menopause this is called an ‘early menopause’
A condition that can also occur much earlier in a woman is POI – premature ovarian insufficiency.
Medical or surgical treatments for the treatment of cancer, radiotherapy or can also result in an early menopause or POI.
Not every woman will have all 34 symptoms but here is a list that may help if you are noticing a change in your partners/colleagues wellbeing and personality.
The 34 symptoms of menopause are;
- brain fog
- joint aches/pains
- hot flushes
- night sweats
- lack of libido
- vaginal dryness
- dry hair
- brittle nails
- dental problems
- weight gain
- dry skin
- panic disorder
- body odour
- irregular heartbeat
- stress incontinence
- muscle tension
- digestive problems
- electric shocks
- tender breasts
- burning mouth
- mood swings
- irregular periods
- memory lapses
- difficulty concentrating
Helpful tips to support your partner during perimenopause and menopause.
Just to be there, to listen and to be understanding. Be patient, be loving and supportive. If you can make your partner feel special, loved and to remind her how fantastic and attractive you still find her.
Women need to hear this at this stage of their lives even more so!! Self confidence and low moods can be present and with hormones spiking up and down from one minute to the next, it’s exhausting for us girls!
A quiet night in! A good netflix box series, healthy food and an early night is now a womans new friday night! Early nights and the occassional drink is much better for women at this change of their lives. Why not encourage a friday night to be your special date night. Just the two of you, netflix and maybe a G&T! Cuddle up on the sofa and enjoy being together. Just knowing that your there for your partner will help your partner to feel good about herself and to will help to unwind.
Communication is key! Keep all lines of communication open and talk with your partner about how they are feeling, can you help around the house be gentle and kind. This will be appreciated, without the pressure of having to ask you. Which can present as another issue, pressure and overwhelm. As women we feel the need to be wonder woman! We feel it is our role and our job to run everything! Try to talk without coming across that your noticing things which are not being done. This could result in a meno rage explosion, so drop into conversation that you could help with the weeks shopping trip, ironing or sometimes just the offer a cup of tea can be all that we need!
Try to not snap back at your partner also, if you find you are in heated exchanges. The up and down of oestrogen and progesterone plays havoc with mood swings, try to be undestanding and patient. If you feel you may say something unkind or untoward take a step away, breathe and try not to take things too personally.
Try to encourage your partner to exercise, maybe you could work out together. This will help to give your partner a lift in mood, all those endorphins and for that all important feel good factors for well being. Exercise really helps to alleviate symptoms during perimenopause/menopause. A gentle jog, a cardio class or a yoga class. During Lockdown there has never been a great time to experience new classes, you could try a class together.
Love and sex during this stage of a woman’s life can be a sensitve time, as you both crave love and affection from one another. She will feel unattractive and low in confidence and you will begin to feel ignored and maybe unloved? Sound familiar? Women at this time are going through such big hormonal shifts mentally and physically sometimes the last thing on a woman’s mind is sex. I can assure that as a woman of forty something we do want our partners, it just takes time for the feelings and changes occurring to a woman need to be accepted and embraced before you can feel comfortable. We all age, all change is anothers factor of ageing, it can arrive as a big shock for women. We have to deal with the big slap in the face that you can no longer have children, you no longer feel feminine and a another reminder that we are ageing and that youth is slipping away. Reassure your partner that you still find her attractive and that you are looking forward to the rest of your lives together and that you have so much to look forward to together!!
What a book!!!
Once I started I could not finish PERIMENOPOWER by Author Katarina Wilk, Orion springs Publishing.
I throughly recommend reading this book!! A MUST!
If you are looking for clear, honest and helpful supportive advice during perimenopause. This is your BOOK!
Katarina talks about her own ups and downs with insomnia and her perimenopause symptoms that you can relate too.
Her writing style is informative, helpful and positive! Urging you to regain your PERIMENOPOWER!
Fourteen chapters each detailing separate issues and topics including katerinas story, terminiology help and advice to see you through tese stages with lifeestyle changes, exercise, diet and HRT.
katarina had a particularly difficult time with insomnia and she explains the lacks of sleep so accurately the merry go round of brain fog that ensues with thius symptom. Shje also details hwo the lack of sleep can seriously affect your whole well being, I for one can relly realate tothis.
When insomnia strikes it can really unbalance you and derailyour joie de vie!
How many women have been told this when visiting their GP with symptoms unaware of perimenopasue?
I don’t want to take anti – depressants I’m not depressed, I just want to sleepKatarina Wilk, Author- PERIMENOPOWER
Katarina’s helpful book with medical information broken down to understand in a way that you feel immediately comforted safe in the knowledge that these symptoms are natural and help is out there to get you through!
I want to clarify once again that the perimenopause isn’t an illness but a phase that most women go through. SOme of us suffer more, others less and sometimes it’s hard to say which came first, the chicken or the egg.Katarina Wilk – Author – PERIMENOPOWER
Katarina chapter on HRT is really helpful and goes into detail about the viewpoints previously about HRT and how HRT research shows that it is important for women to use HRT during perimenopause and menopause. The benefits for your heart, bone and well being are mentioned by Professor Tord Naessen at Uppsala University. She also brings to our attention an OEstrogen pioneer in swedish gynaecology, Mirjam Furuhjelm who believed that a womans life should be lived for as long as possible and as healthy as possible. Mirjam true to her belief took oestrogen in her midlfe and lived to the age of 94!
Katarina’s sleep solutions
1. Avoid caffeine
4. Acupressure mat
5. Evening bath
6. Natural supplements
8. AtaraxKatarina Wilk, Author. – PERIMENOPOWER
PeriMenoPost has launched it’s very own PeriMenoPost Members Club for brands.
If you are a retail brand or retail service that can help women through the stages of perimenopause and menopause we can help to represent you and be a part of our membership club.
PeriMenoPost members club promotes brands and menopause services to a bespoke audience of customers.
Ensuring help and empowerment to women during all the stages of menopause.
I look forward to hearing from you.