Do perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms affect the marital relationship?

Abstract

This study investigated whether women's perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms had negative effects on marital or long-term relationships, an aspect underrepresented in the literature. A questionnaire distributed to 110 convenience-sampled women, ages 45-60 years and prescreened for inclusion by private practitioners or the author's colleagues, yielded a 60% return. Symptoms correlated positively with participants' feelings about the relationship and sexual intimacy with their partner (.353-.783, p ¼ 0.01, and 272-.371, p ¼ 0.05, respectively). Divorced women did not experience the same loss of sexual desire or feel anger or resentment toward their partners as did married women. Clinicians should ask women about perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms, loss of libido, and the marital relationship during annual visits. Education related to this period of life may provide a better understanding to women and the partner may be included in education, as many men do not understand the changes associated with perimenopause and menopause.

The Relation between Menopausal Symptoms among Rural Women and Their Quality of Life

“…In addition, the difference in the previous results could be related to the degree of marital satisfaction of menopausal women. This is supported by Caico (2013) who reported that women who experienced greater marital satisfaction have been shown to have less severe menopausal symptoms and negative moods (26) . While Roesch et al, (2021) found that no significant difference was found between the mean ENRICH Marital Satisfaction score for women who report that they are in menopause and not in menopause (27) .…”

Sex life and role identity in Taiwanese women during menopause: a qualitative study

“…() found that menopausal women in China believe that as age increases, sexual relationships decrease in importance or significance. Caico's () study of menopausal women in the US also found that some menopausal women viewed spouses as companions or friends. It may be that, with increasing age or with menopausal status, women's concern turns more to emotional intimacy rather than sexual intimacy (Tiegs et al .…”

“Friends? Supported. Partner? Not so much …”: Women's experiences of friendships, family, and relationships during perimenopause and menopause

“…Menopause or the wider context of women's lives and relationships? It is perhaps unsurprising that researchers have sometimes concluded that hormones and peri/menopausal changes may be a factor in relationship breakdown and marriages ending (Caico, 2011;Wu & Schimmele, 2007). Yet, this is difficult to definitively ascertain.…”

“…The reasons for women considering leaving a partner/relationship during midlife could be attributed to other aspects of having been partnered for many years. It is also particularly difficult to tease apart peri/menopause from other changes within women's wider contexts (e.g., Caico, 2011). Research during the 1990s and early 2000s evidenced how challenges associated with caring for ageing parents, their own partner's health and sexual functioning, and low levels of social support impacted women's relationships (reported in Hinchliff et al, 2010; see also Dillaway, 2007Dillaway, , 2008Dillaway, , 2020.…”

“…The average age of menopause is reportedly between 48 and 52 years, but in Western cultures, it can typically occur any time from the early 40s to the late 50s (Dillaway, 2020). Women may experience hormonal fluctuations from 10 years before menopause and therefore can be in their 30s when they first notice menstrual changes and other signs indicative of perimenopause (Caico, 2011; Dillaway, 2020; Kittell et al, 1998). We use the term “peri/menopause” to capture the duration of women experiencing signs and symptoms (noting the definitional slippage where “menopause” is often used as a generic term to capture all phases).…”