Menopause and divorce

Sue Wardropper, family law solicitor, looks at a recent report the potential correlation that could be drawn between the menopause and divorce.

A survey conducted by the Family Law Menopause Project and Newson Health Research and Education revealed that 7 in 10 women blame the menopause for their divorce or marriage issues.

Sadly, only a third of the women interviewed stated that they had received treatment and/or Hormone Replacement Therapy (‘HRT’) to relieve the symptoms associated with the menopause. This is only exacerbated by the HRT shortage recently reported by the British Menopause Society.

Discussions surrounding the menopause have gathered momentum in recent months, with World Menopause Day only recently being on 18th October. Indeed, our employment solicitors have recently taken a look at menopause discrimination in the workplace.

So, what is the relationship between the menopause and divorce?

This survey reveals a direct link between the menopause and relationship breakdown, suggesting that the menopause can significantly contribute to arguments in the family home and, in some cases, lead to divorce.

Despite increasing awareness of the menopause, a stigma persists which hampers discussion around the realities that many women, and some men, face on a daily basis. This, coupled with the increasing strain on menopausal care available under the NHS, inevitably facilitates a lack of understanding regarding how the menopause can impact upon our personal relationships.

A failure to understand why your partner is acting or feeling a certain way may be frustrating and could be placing an emotional strain on many couples.

Some have argued that the symptoms of the menopause, particularly brain fog and forgetfulness, may impact negatively upon a woman’s ability to work in the later stages of their lives. Similarly, with the average age of divorce coinciding with the average age of starting the perimenopause, there is a pressure on menopausal women to achieve a sense of financial security post-separation.

In recent years at Holmes & Hills we have witnessed the family courts gradually move away from making spousal maintenance orders. This is to promote the financial independence of the wife post-separation. However, this fails to consider the negative impact of the menopause on some women’s working lives. This is something which must be considered by a divorce solicitor when negotiating their clients’ financial settlements throughout divorce proceedings.

Family solicitors must also be well-equipped in emotionally supporting clients going through a divorce. Getting a divorce is a stressful time for anyone and with menopause in the picture, these feelings may be heightened.

At Holmes & Hills we will take the time to understand your needs when it comes to your divorce and financial remedy proceedings. With our Family Team recently moving up in the rankings in the Legal 500 directory, we are considered one of the best teams in East Anglia.