On October 20, 2026, The Menopause Society released findings from a cross-national survey of men whose partners are going through, or have gone through, menopause. The study will be presented at the Society's 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego (October 20–24) under the title "The forgotten partner: cross-national survey findings on male partners' experiences, knowledge, and support needs during menopause." Nearly 100 male partners in Canada and the United Kingdom answered questions about menopause knowledge, effects on the relationship, communication, help-seeking and what education they need.

Why It Matters

The sample is small and self-selected, and this is a conference abstract, not a peer-reviewed paper. The numbers should be treated as directional. The direction still matters commercially. Almost all menopause products, from [telehealth](/stories/midi-health-rebrand-beyond-menopause) to [wearables](/stories/identifyher-peri-perimenopause-wearable) to the [menopause-positioned pleasure devices](/stories/lovehoney-sheherme-menopulse-boots) now in Boots, are marketed to one person in the relationship. This survey points to a second buyer who has hardly been addressed. That person feels the loss of intimacy, has no information, and says they would use a support programme. That makes partner-facing content an obvious product extension. Couples' modules in existing menopause apps, partner education in sex-therapy apps (digital therapy for sexual dysfunction already has [RCT-grade evidence](/stories/mylovia-rct-digital-therapy-fsd)), employer menopause benefits that include partners, and retail marketing aimed at couples for midlife lubricants, moisturisers and devices all fit. The same meeting is hearing a lot of new data on hormone therapy and non-hormonal drugs. The relationship side of menopause, including desire, painful sex and intimacy, is still the least-served part of the market, and it is where the sexual-wellness industry fits most naturally.

The headline numbers show men who want to help but don't know enough to do it: - 68% of Canadian respondents said they knew little or nothing about menopause before their partner's transition. - Only 43% of UK respondents felt they understood it well enough to support their partner effectively. - 50% of UK respondents said men get no support during a partner's transition. - 88% of Canadians had never sought support, yet 90% said a support programme would or might help.

Four themes came up most often: loss of intimacy and physical connection; wanting to support a partner while feeling underprepared; emotional distress and relationship strain; and a lack of male-focused education. "We've done a much better job of helping women understand menopause, but we haven't really brought men into the conversation," said study author Dr. Amobi Onumaeme, founder of the education platform MyMenopauseGP. "Most men want to support the women they love; they just don't always understand what is happening or know what to do." Abstracts from the meeting will be published in the December 2026 issue of Menopause.

Sources

Update — 2026-10-22

Initial entry — story first created.