World menopause day: Menopause & relationships
Recent research found 73% of women in the UK blame the menopause for the breakdown of their marriage, while a further 67% claim it increased domestic abuse and arguments.
On World Menopause Day, we met Beverley Ellis who blames her own marriage collapse on her menopausal symptoms. Beverley said: "I felt old and hot and I didn't want him near me and I just gradually pushed him away", explaining that she also felt embarrassed and kept her hair short due to excess sweating caused by the menopause.
Beverley went on to explain that if there was more information available and open conversations breaking the taboo, it could have helped her relationship.
Speaking about how the menopause causes breakdowns in marriages, Dr Louise Newson said: "It's really common and as you know women can be affected in so many different ways."
The irritability can really affect relationships, the lack of drive, people feel very worthless and very flat - not themselves. A lot of partners will say this is not who I married. They wan't to help but don't know how to bring up that conversation."
She added: "It's knowing that it can affect in different ways."
Dr Louise also went on to explain how the menopause affects different cultures and reiterates that it is a worldwide problem that needs addressing. She said: "It's really looking at other cultures as well. We are just funding some work in Africa at the moment because you can't get HRT in Africa, so these women are really withdrawing from society, they're loosing their identities."