Survey finds male partners feel unprepared for partner’s menopause transition

A survey of nearly 100 male partners of women experiencing or having experienced menopause found that many wanted to support their partners but felt underprepared. Respondents reported limited knowledge of menopause, unmet support needs, relationship strain and a shortage of educational resources designed for men. The cross-national study was conducted in Canada and the United Kingdom, with results scheduled for presentation at The Menopause Society’s 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego, October 20–24.

The survey examined male partners’ experiences of the menopause transition through questions about knowledge, relationships, communication, support-seeking behavior and educational needs. Among Canadian respondents who answered the knowledge question, 68% said they had known little or nothing about menopause before their partner’s transition. In the United Kingdom, 43% said they understood menopause well enough to support their partner effectively. These percentages describe the surveyed respondents and the questions they answered; they do not establish a population-wide difference between the two countries.

Men also described gaps in the support available to them. In the United Kingdom, 50% said men are not supported during a partner’s menopause transition. In Canada, 88% had never sought support, although 90% indicated that a support program would help or might help. The results therefore show a distinction between interest in assistance and actual use of support: most Canadian respondents had not sought it, even though a large majority believed a program could be useful.

Analysis of the responses identified four dominant themes: loss of intimacy and physical connection; a desire to support partners while feeling underprepared; emotional distress and relationship strain; and a lack of male-focused education and support resources. Men described uncertainty about how to respond to mood swings, irritability and changes in sexual desire. Dr. Amobi Onumaeme, the study author and founder of the evidence-informed menopause-education platform MyMenopauseGP, said men want to support the women in their lives but often do not understand what is happening or know what to do. He said the transition can affect relationships, families and workplaces, and that men have not been adequately included in menopause education.

Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, said menopause can be a shared experience for a couple because it may alter relationship dynamics, affect sexual intimacy and introduce unexpected stress. She noted that men can feel confused or frustrated when responding to mood changes, irritability or a sense of rejection associated with changes in sexual desire, but said reliable resources for navigating those changes are scarce. The survey did not test a support program or measure whether one would improve couples’ experiences. Its nearly 100 participants were drawn from two countries, and responses to individual questions varied, so the findings are best understood as evidence of information, education and support needs among the men included in the study rather than a representative estimate for all male partners.

Subject of Research: Cross-national survey of male partners’ knowledge, relationship experiences and support needs during menopause

Article Title: Men feel unprepared for partner's menopause transition

Article References: Men feel unprepared for partner's menopause transition. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: Not provided

Keywords: menopause, male partners, cross-national survey, Canada, United Kingdom, support needs, menopause education, relationship strain, sexual intimacy, emotional distress, feel, unprepared