The effects of menopause may be contributing to the “end of marriages”, according to a new survey from the UK.
Seventy per cent of women surveyed said that menopause has exacerbated marital problems, causing more arguments and in some cases they even blame it for their experiences with domestic abuse.
Over a thousand women were interviewed for the survey, conducted by the Family Law Menopause Project and Newson Health Research and Education in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Eight out of ten women said problems within their marriage were heightened due to the symptoms they experienced of perimenopause or menopause.
Despite this, just over a third of participants said they were given treatment or HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to relieve their symptoms. Within that cohort, just 65 per cent said the medication had a positive effect on them.
Many participants who did not receive support or treatment said that receiving it could have saved their relationships.
Dr Louise Newson, founder of Newson Health, said despite the common knowledge of menopause’s physical symptoms, the mental health impact is too often ignored.
“[menopause] can be catastrophic for many women, having a deeply negative effect on their work, relationships and finances as a result,” she told Sky News UK.
In a statement published on her website, Newson said she hopes that all women will be able to access individualised evidence-based treatment.
“I hope that those women who want to have their hormones back are able to in a very easy, straightforward way,” she said.
Founder of the Family Law Menopause Project, Farhana Shahzady, called the latest survey “ground-breaking” and believes the findings indicate the link between menopause and divorce.
In the UK, research also inducates that menopausal symptoms contribute to one in 10 women leaving their jobs.
In Australia, one in five women experience severe or prolonged menopause symptoms, but many are unable to access targeted health support. Other figures suggest that up to a quarter of women will experience serious symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sweats and migraines.
In June this year, the NSW government announced $40 million in funding in its 2022-23 budget to enable women to receive targeted support when they need it and shift the stigma around menopause.
The government will establish holistic menopausal services across the state. Three hundred thousand dollars will be put aside for a state-wide education and awareness campaign on perimenopause and menopause symptoms, education for GPs and employers.
A clinical network will also be set up to help address long-term health conditions women can face during menopause. These include bone thinning, weight management issues and an increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
In May, Ali Daddo released her debut book, “Queen Menopause, Finding your majesty in the mayhem”, detailing her struggles with menopause, and offering advice on how partners can support them.
“At the end of the day, we just want to be loved and heard,” she said, suggesting that communication and being open with your partner is key. “Having someone on her side pointing out the beauty of her, inside and out, is a gift that will stay with her forever,” she adds, stressing the importance of making women feel good about themselves.