What symptoms do women experience?

Menopause has a major impact on the body and mind. These changes can feel exhausting, overwhelming, and uncomfortable for women to navigate — which is why your support matters. The first step is to understand her experience.

While there are 100+ menopause symptoms, common changes include:

Naturally, these symptoms can affect a woman’s confidence, happiness, and energy levels, changing how she shows up in relationships. It’s important to remember it’s not her, it’s her hormones. Symptoms may affect your usual relationship habits, but there are solutions. 

How can you support a woman in menopause?

Emotionally:

• Be patient.

• Don’t take her symptoms or reactions personally.

• Remember all that she’s navigating.

• Actively listen, without offering advice — sometimes, simply listening to her experience is the greatest sign of support.

• Based on what she shares, take small & supportive actions, without being asked.

In conversation:

• Regularly check in to ask how she feels.

• Validate her feelings and experience.

• Share words of encouragement.

• Pay attention and remember what she shares.

• Refrain from blaming her actions or reactions on menopause.

• Communicate your needs and feelings, too.

As a romantic and intimate partner:

• Compliment her, from her appearance to her talents and strengths.

• Prioritize dates and activities that strengthen your bond.

• Engage in healthy habits together, like exercise. 

• Be aware of physical changes that impact sex:

  • Introduce lube and other solutions to enhance her comfort.

  • Slow down, prioritize her pleasure.

  • Understand when she might not be in the mood. 

  • Strengthen intimacy outside of sex (physical touch, words of affirmation) — this can support her libido.