I was recently watching an episode of the Share the Dignity podcast with former NRL player and Author Luke Bateman. He was discussing how we can support our partners regarding women’s health, and his message really stuck with me. He pointed out that while things like hormonal shifts do not affect men physically, they absolutely change our home environment. When you share a life with someone, their health journey becomes your shared reality.
I looked at my wife and thought about the example I want to set for our daughters. If we want a happy, supportive home, we need to educate ourselves so we can actually be useful.
Around the same time, I was sent an email with information, data I would normally push aside as “not for me” and it instead got me thinking about this major health transition that catches nearly every household off guard: perimenopause.
For generations, menopause has been treated as a biological milestone happening strictly behind closed doors. But perimenopause is a major life stage that heavily impacts relationships and family dynamics. Yet, so many men remain entirely unsure of how to properly support their partners.
Recent national research commissioned by Blackmores reveals just how much in the dark everyone is. A massive 84% of women in perimenopause feel completely unprepared for this health stage. If the women going through it feel lost, it makes sense that partners feel helpless, but sitting on the sidelines is no longer a good excuse.
To understand how to help, we must look at the daily pressure our partners face. The research shows that 72% of perimenopausal women are employed, 75% are raising children, and 69% are simultaneously managing a mental health condition. Because of this massive juggling act, 63% cite low energy and fatigue as their primary health concern.
Feeling tired is so normalised that many women routinely misdiagnose early perimenopause signs, mistaking insomnia and brain fog for standard workplace burnout. According to the data, women often attribute these changes to mild stress (43%), general burnout (35%), or a lack of sleep (33%). Because they are used to carrying a heavy load, two-thirds simply take a “wait and see” approach, pushing through the exhaustion alone.
How Men Can Actually Help This is where men need to pay attention. If your partner is constantly exhausted, do not just accept it as a reaction to a busy week. Juliet Glynn, Head of Marketing ANZ at Blackmores, states that women deserve open, honest conversations and actionable support, not silence and guesswork.
A good place to point is toward trusted information for you as well. Blackmores has launched an evidence-backed digital Women’s Health Hub to provide practical guidance so women do not have to piece together unverified advice online. A healthy relationship requires teamwork. By educating ourselves and stepping up, we can create a much better home environment for everyone.
