Monique Rainford

I was recently made aware of the passing of someone I admired, respected and had the privilege of knowing personally. That person was Geoff Brown. In addition to multiple other roles, he had been a newspaper columnist for almost 20 years and shared some words of wisdom that I hope to always carry with me.

The challenge I now face is to find a topic in my specialty to discuss as a tribute to this special man. I knew that he was happily married to a bright and talented woman for several years and, though I cannot comment any further on their relationship, I will discuss the role of a supportive spouse in a woman's menopausal transitional years and beyond.

The perimenopausal transition is defined as the time between when a woman's periods start becoming irregular and when they stop. Menopause occurs when a woman's periods permanently stop. It occurs because a woman's ovaries stop producing follicles, which make eggs and the hormone oestrogen. Traditionally, a woman has passed through menopause if she is over 40 years and has had no periods for one year in the absence of pregnancy.

Hot flashes

The hallmark symptom of menopause is the hot flash or hot flush, which about half of women experience after they have passed through menopause. A woman experiences a sensation of heat, often accompanied by sweating. The symptoms tend to disrupt her sleep, which can lead to fatigue and irritability.

Another common symptom of menopause is vaginal dryness. Low oestrogen levels, which occur with menopause are also associated with a higher incidence of depression and mental decline. A combination of these symptoms may have a negative effect on her desire for and enjoyment of sex.

What can a good spouse do? It is important that a spouse recognises that this can be a difficult time for his partner. Educating himself about menopause will help him to recognise her symptoms and be more empathetic. He can encourage his spouse to discuss her experiences. He should be more patient with her regarding sexual intercourse, given her likely difficulties at this time.

A good spouse can assist his partner to live a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating the right foods, not smoking, limiting her caffeine intake and exercising regularly. Healthy eating habits involve eating foods low in fat, reducing salt intake and having meals with a mixture of different food groups, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, food from animals and staples. A healthy, balanced, low-fat diet can also help prevent mental decline.

Social interaction

A supportive spouse can also encourage his partner to maintain or develop social interaction such as participating in church groups or service clubs. He could also engage her in games such as crossword puzzles, which can help to prevent mental decline. He can educate himself on signs of depression and encourage his partner to seek medical care if he is concerned.

Helping her cope with stress can also have a positive impact on her mental status. Recent research shows that people living with a spouse have a lower risk of dementia than people who live alone. A supportive spouse can also help his partner make informed choices on birth control during her transitional years and decide whether hormone therapy is a healthy choice when she reaches menopause.

I encourage men to value their role in their spouses' health at this critical juncture in their lives.

Dr Monique Rainford is a consulting obstetrician and gynaecologist; email yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.