🌟 Supporting a Loved One Through Menopause & Hormonal Health 🌟
- Mar 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 17
Menopause, perimenopause, and other hormonal health changes can be overwhelming. They can bring a rollercoaster of emotions, physical discomfort, and unexpected challenges. But with kindness, patience, and understanding, you can make a world of difference in supporting your partner, friend, colleague, or family member through this transition.
Let’s explore how you can be a rock of support while strengthening your bond along the way.
📚 Understanding the Journey
Hormonal changes aren’t just about hot flushes and mood swings (though those can certainly be part of it!). They can affect nearly every aspect of a woman’s physical and emotional well-being.
🌟 Perimenopause – The lead-up to menopause, often starting in the 40s (sometimes earlier), where hormones fluctuate wildly. This phase can last up to 10 years!
🌟 Menopause – Defined as 12 months without a period (average age: 51). Oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels drop, leading to a wide range of symptoms.
🌟 Beyond Menopause – Many women continue to experience symptoms for years post-menopause as their bodies adjust to new hormone levels.
🔥 Common Symptoms She May Experience
Every woman’s journey is different, but here are some of the most common challenges:
💨 Mood Swings & Anxiety
Hormonal shifts can make emotions feel unpredictable.
She may feel teary one minute, irritable the next. It’s not you—it’s her hormones!
🧥 Hot Flushes & Night Sweats
Sudden waves of heat can make her feel like she’s on fire.
Night sweats may disrupt her sleep, leading to exhaustion.
💖 Changes in Libido & Intimacy
Low oestrogen can cause vaginal dryness, discomfort during sex, and a dip in libido.
Reassurance and patience go a long way.
🌚 Fatigue & Sleep Issues
Even if she sleeps, she may wake up feeling shattered. Poor sleep can make symptoms worse.
👨🦲 Brain Fog & Forgetfulness
Struggling to remember things, losing track of conversations, or feeling overwhelmed can be frustrating for both of you.
💪 Joint Pain & Muscle Aches
Oestrogen helps keep joints lubricated, so its decline can lead to stiffness and aches.
🚽 Frequent Urination & UTIs
Weakened bladder muscles can lead to more bathroom trips (sometimes urgently!).
🌿 Skin, Hair & Body Changes
Dry skin, thinning hair, weight fluctuations, and even acne can all appear unexpectedly.
80% of women experience multiple symptoms, with 25% facing severe menopause symptoms. It’s not all in her head—these are real, biological changes.
💛 How You Can Be a Supportive Partner, Friend, or Colleague
1. Educate Yourself
Understanding menopause and hormonal health is the first step. The more you know, the more you can support her.
2. Encourage Open Conversations
Create a safe space where she feels heard. Sometimes, just listening can make all the difference.
3. Be Patient & Kind
Her emotions may feel like a rollercoaster. Avoid taking mood swings personally and remember, this isn’t about you.
4. Offer Practical Help
Everyday tasks can feel overwhelming. Helping with chores, running errands, or cooking a meal can ease her burden.
5. Support Her Self-Care
Encourage gentle exercise, relaxation techniques, and healthy eating. Better yet, join in! A walk together or a calming evening routine can be bonding time.
6. Adapt to Lifestyle Changes
Menopause may mean adjusting sleep patterns, social habits, or even diet. Being flexible helps her feel supported.
7. Reassure Her About Intimacy
Changes in libido don’t mean love is lost. She may need reassurance, patience, and open conversations about what feels good now.
8. Respect Her Healthcare Choices
Whether she chooses HRT, lifestyle changes, or alternative therapies, support her decision without judgement.
9. Validate Her Feelings
Saying “I hear you” and “I believe you” can be incredibly powerful.
10. Avoid Dismissing Symptoms
Phrases like “it’s just a phase” or “you’re overreacting” can feel invalidating. Instead, acknowledge her experience.
11. Empathise & Encourage
Imagine how exhausting constant hot flushes or sleepless nights must be. A little empathy goes a long way.
12. Attend Medical Appointments If Invited
If she wants support at doctor visits, your presence can help her feel more confident and less alone.
13. Take Care of Yourself Too
Supporting someone through a big life transition can be draining. Make sure you have outlets to talk about your experiences and feelings, too.
💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!
Menopause isn’t just a “women’s issue”—it’s a relationship issue, a family issue, and a workplace issue. The more we talk about it, the more we normalise it.
💡 Have you supported someone through menopause? What helped?
💡 Are you going through menopause yourself? What do you wish people understood better?
💡 Want to learn more? Tag someone who might benefit from reading this!
Together, we can create a world where every woman feels seen, heard, and supported. 💕✨
📢 IMPORTANT 📢
We hope you’ve found this article useful. However, it cannot be a substitute for a consultation with a specialist. If you’re concerned about symptoms you’re experiencing or require further information, please reach out to us via our :
TALK TO US (contact us can be found at the bottom of our homepage). 📞💬
Navigating Today’s Digital World: Separating Fact from Fiction
With so much information online, it’s difficult to know what to trust. At Femme Forte, we cut through the noise by:
✅ Delivering clear, fact-checked content
✅ Relying on the expertise of qualified professionals
✅ Ensuring all information is rooted in the latest scientific research
Why Trust Femme Forte?
At Femme Forte, we believe in trusted, expert-led, and empowering healthcare for every woman. 💙
🔹 Reliable Information – Every article, resource, and guide is meticulously vetted to reflect the latest best practices in women’s healthcare.
🔹 Expert-Driven Content – Learn from industry-leading professionals who provide practical, science-backed insights.
🔹 Community & Support – Join a growing network of women empowered with the knowledge to take charge of their hormonal health.
In Association with... The Menopause Consortium (TMC)
We are proud to collaborate with The Menopause Consortium (TMC)—one of the UK’s largest independent providers of in-person women’s health clinics. This partnership ensures you receive expert-backed insights from a diverse network of leading healthcare professionals, including:
✔ Doctors & Gynaecologists
✔ Nurses & Pharmacists
✔ Psychotherapists
✔ Dietitians & Physiotherapists
Together, we take a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to supporting your hormonal health.
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