Home » What Are Menopause Symptoms, And How Relationships Can Survive Them?

Reprint

After considerable research, I have put together a list of symptoms, information, and advice designed to help couples go through this period and remain intact. If you want to know how to increase your odds of staying together, read the following.

 Friends that know about my involvement in 12 step recovery programs have actually approached me about the possibility of starting another, to deal with this subject. While some people may find this funny, I have come to realize that it is truly no laughing matter. If one Googles this topic, you will discover that several books have been published designed to help men deal with their partners "problems". This article is by length, inadequate to handle all the issues surrounding this subject, but I will attempt to provide some important information.

I could not find statistics that would indicate how many divorces are the direct result of problems related to menopause, but from everything I have read it appears to be a significant contributing factor. Sadly many couples break apart before either party recognizes that the wife is going through this natural, albeit difficult change.

The first thing to understand is that every single woman that lives long enough, will go through this, Technically you do not "hit" menopause until one year after your last period. In the U.S. most women will start this process between the ages of 45 and 55, with the statistical average being age 51. The symptoms of menopause can appear long before the anniversary of the final period.

The list of possible side effects related to this process, include the following:

Mood Swings... Sleep Disturbances... Hot Flashes... Irregular Periods...Thinning Hair... Decreased Fertility...Vaginal Dryness... Increased Abdominal Fat... The Loss of Breast Fullness.... Vaginal Bleeding....Chronic Fatigue...Depression...Craving Caffeine...Facial Hair Growth...Endometriosis...Headaches or Migraines...Incontinence...Leg Cramps...Loss of Sex Drive...Memory Lapses...Night Sweats...Ringing or Buzzing in the Ear...Water Retention...Unstable Blood Sugar...Yeast Infections...Water Retention...Heart Palpitations...Osteoporosis... Aching Joints and Muscles...Cold or Tingling Hands or Feet...Insatiable Craving Sweets...Anxiety 

What causes Menopause? It occurs when a woman's ovaries are totally depleted of eggs and the body stops producing particular hormones.

What can men do about it? We need to know that the woman we love is going to go through it.

We need to prepare ourselves, not as Oh God here it comes, but as an opportunity to demonstrate our love and patience.

We need to be watchful for side effects, but not too quick to point out what you suspect is coming (for the same reason we do not say "is it that time of month again?") We need to understand that their mood swings are not related to us, and that we should not take their moodiness personal.

We should be prepared for vaginal dryness, and provide a lubricant for those times.

We need to be prepared for them to be hot in cold rooms. (buy lots of sweaters).

We need to ignore increases in abdominal fat, they may not have any control over it.

We can expect them to have problems with sleeping, which will often lead to them being "cranky." (Many people swear by Benadryl to help them at night) Once your partner realizes they are going through menopause,lead them to information on the web, there are hormonal therapies, and herbal supplements worth considering.

Encourage them to seek medical advice, this is not something to be embarrassed about it is very natural.

We need to keep in mind that Menopause comes to an end, the woman you love will return to normal.

We need to remain committed to helping our partner through this, and not give up.

If you have any thoughts, advice, suggestions etc. please write me at jefflodi@myway.com