Menopause is a factor in why some marriages fall apart, a new survey has found.
Eight out of 10 women who have experienced marital difficulties say that premenopausal or menopausal symptoms make their family life difficult.
Menopause can begin months or years before the last period and can last up to four years after it.
Physical symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, and night sweats, while mental symptoms include low mood and anxiety, low libido, and difficulty concentrating.
The survey of 1,000 women found that 70 percent blamed menopause for their divorce or marital problems.
Only a third of women surveyed said they had been offered treatment or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve their symptoms. Most felt that getting support or treatment could have potentially saved their marriage.
Dr Louise Newson, a GP who runs Newson Health, said in a statement:
"While the physical symptoms of menopause are well-known and often discussed, the mental health impact is often ignored and can be disastrous for many women, leading to deeper illness, negative impact on work, relationship and financial problems.
"Our mission is to improve health outcomes for menopausal women through further education and research."
