A Love Letter (and a Warning) About Menopause

Dear Partners

This one’s for you — our partners, our teammates, our people. The ones who love us, live with us, and sometimes wonder what the hell is going on.

We’re Sorry… And Also, You’re Welcome.

Now let’s talk menopause: Buckle up.

Here’s the truth: it’s not just our journey — it becomes yours too, whether you signed up for it or not. And some days, we know it feels like living with a stranger who cries because there’s no milk, yells at the tv, and stares into space for ten minutes wondering what she came into the room for.

We see you. We know it’s confusing. It’s confusing for us, too.

So let’s clear a few things up:

No, we don’t know where our libido went. It left a note saying “BRB” and disappeared.
Yes, we did just cry over a dog ad.
No, it’s not you. (Unless it is).
And yes, we’re still mad. About what? We’ll get back to you when we remember.

Menopause is more than hot flushes and skipped periods. It’s brain fog, mood swings, anxiety that creeps in for no reason, skin that suddenly feels like sandpaper, joints that ache, sleep that disappears, and a sense of identity that feels like it’s floating away.

And let’s not even get started on the libido rollercoaster. (Actually, let’s. Some days, it’s a ghost town. Other days, we surprise even ourselves. You never know what you’re gonna get.)

But through all of this, what we want most — more than solutions, more than advice — is your patience. Your kindness. Your willingness to just be there while we figure this out.

Please don’t try to fix us. We’re not broken — we’re evolving. We’re moving into a new season of life, one we didn’t ask for, but one we’re learning to embrace. You’re on this ride with us, so lean in. Learn with us. And if all else fails — bring snacks.

So when we snap, or cry, or go silent… don’t take it personally. Ask how we’re really doing. Hug us. Make us a cuppa. Laugh with us when we forget what day it is — or what your name is. And when we say we need space, give it with love, not distance.

We know this isn’t easy for you either. So thank you — For staying — For trying — For walking this journey with us, even when it feels like it’s uphill both ways and the GPS is broken.

We’re still us underneath it all. Maybe softer, maybe a bit wilder, maybe a little unpredictable. But we’re still in here. And we’re so grateful you are too.

With (slightly damp) love,
All of Us Menopausal Women

Written by Shan, 47