There has, thankfully, been a shift in the women’s healthcare conversation. There are now podcasts dedicated to perimenopause, manuals for menopause and TV specials about all the changes a woman can look forward to. But what a lot of these have in common is a focus on women, which is sensible, up to a point. There are a lot of men out there who couldn’t tell a perimenopause from a perineum and that’s not a mistake you really want to make!

So, if your partner is male, how do you sit down with them to talk about what may or may not happen without a) terrifying him and b) terrifying yourself. The answer is to make it simple and take it slowly.

1. Introduce the Topic
Lots of men have no idea what happens when women reach their perimenopausal years. They know that you probably can’t have any more kids but beyond that they don’t really have a grasp of the technicalities. The easiest way to explain what may be coming is to describe it in ways they understand. Tell them a hormonal shift is on its way in the same way as happened in your early teens. You body will need time to adapt to the changes and find a new way to be. He should remember the highs and lows of his own teen years and be able to empathise with change.

2. Explain the Science
In the same way that he may have experienced hormonal acne, weight fluctuations and voice changes when he was an adolescent, you are going to experience the impact of hormonal changes in your own body. During the perimenopause your levels of oestrogen and progesterone change and can result in a combination of symptoms that can include bloating, hot flashes, headaches, insomnia, vaginal dryness, fatigue and sometimes heavier and longer periods. You may not experience all of those symptoms and you may find yourself with different ones but it’s important that he remembers why you’re getting them and how to help.

3. How Can Your Partner Help?
 As we know, men like a solution to a problem and may come back to you with a list of suggestions, which is great. Remind him gently that perimenopause and menopause are a life stage and one that requires his support. That could be giving you time to rest, helping out a bit more around the house (even better to do it without being asked) or managing the kids schedules a bit more.

4. Your Practical Supports
There are lots of options available to you when going through perimenopause. Lifestyle changes, supplements and/or medical solutions may be right for you. You can discuss all these with your your medical professional and when you’ve decided what’s the right course of action, you can discuss it with your partner.

If you’re considering a supplement, Cleanmarine MenoMin is an Irish brand designed for women in perimenopause or menopause. This supplement contains Omega 3, Biotin, Rosemary Oil and Soy Isoflavones along with a range of vitamins to provide nutritional support for this phase of life. Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity and along with vitamins B1 and B12 it also contributes to normal psychological function.