A Man’s Guide to Menopause: Understanding and Supporting Her Journey

Hand this to your partner.

Menopause isn’t just a “women’s issue.” It’s a life transition that affects relationships too. If your partner is going through perimenopause or menopause, knowing what’s really happening and how you can support her makes a huge difference.

What menopause and perimenopause really involve

Menopause marks the end of menstrual periods: the official milestone comes when a woman hasn’t had a period for 12 months.

The lead‑up years, called perimenopause, can begin many years earlier, when hormone levels start shifting. During this phase, fluctuations in oestrogen, progesterone and even testosterone can affect many body systems, from mood, sleep and skin to bones, joints, cognition and more. 

As a result, your partner may experience:

• Hot flushes, night sweats, and sudden feelings of heat or chills 

• Mood swings, irritability, anxiety or sadness even over small triggers 

• Poor sleep or insomnia, often worsened by night sweats 

• Joint or muscle aches, reduced bone density, or other body changes that can leave her feeling older or fragile 

• Changes in libido and intimacy, lower desire or discomfort during sex, linked to hormonal and physical shifts. 

How you can help: practical, caring ways

• Learn about menopause together: Educating yourself helps you understand what’s happening, from hormones to common symptoms. 

• Listen patiently and without judgment: Sometimes she may just need you to hear her and not fix the problem. 

• Ease practical burdens: take on extra chores, maybe handle laundry or cooking when she feels fatigued, or help with errands. 

• Make the home environment comfortable: adjust bedding/room temperature to reduce night sweats, ensure good airflow, and help create a calm atmosphere. 

• Encourage healthy habits: gentle exercise, nutritious meals, and restful sleep can ease symptoms and improve wellbeing. Doing these together can boost bonding and mutual support. 

• Be open about intimacy: Hormonal changes may affect libido and comfort. Talk honestly and compassionately about intimacy or alternative ways to stay close (cuddling, emotional closeness, non‑sexual affection). 

• If needed, support her in finding medical or professional help, a doctor experienced in menopause care, or someone who can explain treatment options like lifestyle adaptations or, when appropriate, hormone therapy. 

A journey you share together, not one she travels alone

Menopause can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be isolating. With your support, empathy and patience, this phase can become an opportunity for deeper connection, understanding and quite possibly a stronger relationship.

If you enjoy our Meno Health newsletter and the information we share on Instagram and LinkedIn, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues. That way, they can also learn more about menopause and menopause in the workplace.

If you would like to read the results of our Menopause at Work study, click here  MenoSupport Suisse 2025 Study. 

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