Majority of males know about menopause in the sense that it is that period when the fertility of a woman ceases due to the cessation of hormonal production within her reproductive system but how do we cope with the attendant challenges that come during this pivotal time in a woman's life.

Also Read: All You Need To Know About Menopause

It’s not all about hot flushes
Psychotherapist and menopause expert Diane Danzebrink says that for men: "It’s about education and understanding what menopause is. We need to get over the barrier that it’s all about hot flushes and night sweats.

"One of the things I have really picked up on from men is the perception is that [women are] 'all going mad'. That’s not the man’s fault, because sadly, we don't teach anything about menopause earlier in life.

"Menopause simply means the end of monthly periods – once the ovaries stop producing eggs and hormone levels start to drop.

"Leading up to menopause is perimenopause and that is when hormone levels start to fluctuate. 75% of women will experience symptoms and for some they can be debilitating, affecting all aspects of their lives and those around them."

Also Read: Full List of Menopausal Symptoms

It affects the family as a whole
A man once called a radio talk show complaining about how it has been a very difficult phase for the family due to the situation.

“The loss of libido has been very difficult for me to deal with indeed," he said. "She is just as confused about it as I am."

He explained: "Physically I’m warm, my temperature is quite warm, so when we both get into a cold bed we snuggle up together, me keeping her warm.

"But now, in the last 10 years, it’s ‘no, get away from me, I’m hot’.

"It’s changed us from being a cosy couple together to being apart… It’s definitely changed our relationship a lot."

You need to talk about sex
Diane says: "Personal intimacy can completely go out the window. That leaves both partners feeling very isolated.

"Quite often the woman is avoiding any sort of sexual intimacy, because a) if she’s got no libido and is worrying about that then she is going to avoid any kind of physical contact, even just having a hug or cuddle on the sofa; b) if she’s physically suffering – for example with a urinary tract infection or vaginal soreness or atrophy.

"The emotional and physical gap widens and then that gap gets harder to bridge. Once this communication breaks down, it gets harder and harder to start the conversation.

"Lots of the men that I speak to talk about the emotional isolation and how sad they feel that it’s broken down."



You can make a difference (and here’s how)
Diane says: "Recognise the symptoms. Offer support. Sometimes it’s just listening, just being there, sometimes it’s asking: 'What do you need from me?' If your partner can’t see the way forward, you can help with that – but ask, don’t tell.

"It’s also about recognising this is not a change that the woman has control over. Hormones run us all. Once those hormones start fluctuating, they start going off on a path of their own - you don’t have control over it.

"If you have noticed that your wife or partner is more emotional or quicker to snap, rather than snapping back, stop, maybe walk away, just ask yourself why this is happening.

"I've seen statistics saying that one in ten women quit work during menopause. So, if you’re a man who manages women, it’s about having some kind of supportive pathway in place for a member of staff who’s going through it."

There are some things it’s best not to say
Diane says the two phrases she hears all the time are: 'Well, it happens to everyone’ and ‘My mum (or my aunt) got through it all right.’

"I don’t just hear that about men talking to women, I hear it from women who have sailed through it as well. We shouldn’t denigrate each other for our experiences, we should be supportive of those experiences and look to see where we can help. We can’t judge everything by our own experience.

"With the best will in the world, no man will ever know what it’s like to experience it, so it’s about trying to understand. It’s like no woman is ever going to know what it’s like to be the husband or the male partner of a woman going through menopause."