Nearly 60 per cent of men in Ireland believe their relationship has been impacted by menopause symptoms, with almost half saying it has had a negative effect on their sex lives, a new survey shows.
A total of 56 per cent of almost 500 respondents also said they would be willing to join workshops or educational programmes to better understand what their partners go through.
The annual online survey by The Menopause Hub questioned men only for the first time to gain an insight into their understanding of the debilitating symptoms many women have to endure.
Its CEO, Loretta Dignam, said that while the results are ‘encouraging,’ the survey highlights the strain menopause places on relationships and the need for women to talk openly about the effects it has on intimacy.
“Nearly 10 per cent of men surveyed said they considered leaving the relationship, so it shows that menopause can be an extremely difficult time for both people.
“A total of 80 per cent of men say they feel comfortable talking about menopause, and 70 per cent say they feel they can provide emotional support so women have the responsibility to seek help and engagement with men and be open on how they are feeling.
“The male respondents see menopause as a challenging time for women, particularly physically and emotionally, and the fact they recognise that menopause can be such an issue for a woman in all aspects of her life and career is positive, as debilitating symptoms can lead to women having to leave a job they love.”
A total of 56 per cent of men admitted that menopause had negatively impacted their relationship, and just over 8 per cent said they had considered ending the relationship.
And at 48 per cent, almost half of the respondents said it had negatively affected their sex life. More than seven-in-10 men called for more information on menopause, with most willing to participate in workshops or educational programmes.
The majority of those surveyed agreed that menopause was a ‘challenging time for women’ and were able to list at least one symptom, including hot flushes, loss of libido, mood swings and extreme fatigue.
Ms Dignam said that the research shows that men want to know more about menopause and its symptoms.
“I was surprised and encouraged at the level of understanding that men said they had about menopause in the survey, which was much better than I had anticipated,” she said.
“I’m very heartened that it shows women have male allies when they try and navigate their menopause journey, which can also hugely impact personal and working lives.”
The Menopause Hub is Ireland’s first dedicated clinic devoted to treating menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, and has clinics in Mount Merrion, South Dublin, Santry, North Dublin and Ballincollig, Co Cork. Its sister organisation, Menopause Hub Academy, provides workplace training, policy development and accreditation.
