Navigating Menopause Together: How Couples Can Support Each Other Through This Transition

Menopause is often described as a biological milestone in a woman’s life, but it’s also a deeply emotional and relational transition—one that affects couples as a whole and not just individuals. While the physical and hormonal shifts are experienced by women, their ripple effects touch the relationship system in profound ways. As a psychotherapist who works with individuals and couples through life’s various stages, I often see how misunderstood and isolating this phase can feel—for both partners. It’s common for clients to come into therapy saying, “We feel like strangers lately,” or “I don’t understand what she’s going through, and nothing I do seems to help.”

The Emotional Rollercoaster for Women

The menopausal transition brings with it a cascade of hormonal changes that can impact mood, sleep, libido, memory, and energy levels. These shifts are unpredictable and often misunderstood, even by the women experiencing them! Many describe feeling like they’ve “lost themselves,” or as though their emotions no longer match the person they have known themselves to be.

This emotional upheaval can lead to:

• Irritability or low mood

• Anxiety or panic

• Lower sexual desire

• Fatigue or withdrawal from social connections

For many women, these changes can be confusing and distressing, leaving them feeling guilty for not being their “usual selves” within the relationship.

The Distant Partner

Male partners often find themselves unsure of how to respond. What once felt like a safe and stable dynamic may now feel unpredictable.

Without understanding what’s happening, it’s easy for resentment, distance or miscommunication to creep in.

Partners may withdraw in an attempt to “give space” or try to fix things, which can unintentionally make women feel more isolated.

By turning toward each other with curiosity and care, couples can understand and support each other through this phase. Couples therapy offers a safe, structured space to make sense of these changes together. building understanding, empathy and new ways to nurture the relationship.

Content Contribution

MEESHA MAUSOOF Adult and Couples Psychotherapist

Instagram: @mindfulnesstribe

In-person practice: Keyani Wellness, Jumeriah The Valens Clinic, Business Bay