Midi Team
Ever wish the men in your life really got what you’re going through? We've partnered with journalist and menopause advocate Tamsen Fadal, author of How to Menopause, on a new collaboration: the free The Men’s Guide to Understanding Menopause.
It’s a straightforward, stigma-busting resource designed to help men grasp what menopause really means, complete with symptom insights, connection-strengthening tips, and ways to offer meaningful support.
Menopause can feel confusing and isolating—even for the women going through it. So it’s no wonder their partners often feel lost, too. Journalist and menopause advocate Tamsen Fadal remembers that feeling all too well: “I didn’t know what was happening to me. And if I was clueless, Ira was totally in the dark,” she says of her husband.
That shared confusion is what inspired her partnership with Midi Health and the creation of The Men’s Guide to Understanding Menopause, a free resource to help men understand what this transition really means and how to show up with empathy and support.
Here, Tamsen shares what she’s hearing from couples around the country, why understanding matters so much, and how even small shifts in awareness can help partners feel closer, not further apart.
Q: What has the response been from men since your book came out?
TF: Honestly, the response has been eye-opening in the best way. At first, I didn’t know what to expect, but I’ve had so many perimenopausal women who are trying to prepare and the partners who want to better support them reach out to me. So many men have come up to me during the How To Menopause book tour or write in to say, “I had no idea this is what my wife was going through,” or “Thank you for helping me understand how to show up better.”
They’re not just reading How To Menopause and watching The M Factor for themselves, they’re reading it to support the women in their lives. It’s opened up conversations that never would have happened otherwise. That’s why I created the free Men’s Guide to Menopause because when partners are educated and engaged, women feel seen, supported, and less alone.
Q: What’s the biggest takeaway for men when it comes to understanding a woman's menopause journey?
TF: That it’s not just about hot flashes. From perimenopause to postmenopause, this journey can last years and touches every part of a woman’s life: energy, confidence, relationships, identity. It’s not about “fixing” her symptoms, it’s about showing up, listening without judgment, asking how you can help, and recognizing that this transition is not just physical, it’s deeply emotional. That level of presence and understanding makes all the difference.
Q: What are some things you’ve been hearing from women about their relationships on your tour?
TF: So many women are telling me they feel like their partners just… don’t get it. Not out of neglect, but because no one taught them what menopause really is. I’ve heard stories of women feeling disconnected from their partners, like they’re carrying this massive physical and emotional load, and no one really sees it.
But I’ve also heard from women who say that once their partners started reading the book or watched The M Factor, something shifted. It wasn’t about having all the answers, it was about showing interest, compassion, and a willingness to learn. That kind of effort creates closeness again and it turns menopause from a dividing line into a bridge.
Q: What is missing from this conversation?
TF: We’ve done a lot of work bringing menopause out of the shadows, but what’s still missing is a broader understanding that this isn’t just a “women’s health” issue. It’s a family issue, a workplace issue, a relationship issue. And it starts long before menopause with perimenopause, when symptoms begin but most women still don’t have answers.
Partners need to be part of the conversation, because support at home is one of the most powerful tools a woman can have. That’s why I wrote The Men’s Guide to Menopause, and why I love working with Midi Health because they’re helping change the entire ecosystem of care, and that’s what we need if we want to rewrite this chapter for good.
If you’re in perimenopause or menopause and want guidance from clinicians who specialize in women’s midlife health, book a virtual visit with Midi today.
Hormonal change is at the root of dozens of symptoms women experience in the years before and after their period stops.
Our trained menopause specialists can help you connect the dots to guide you towards safe, effective solutions.
Whether you need personalized guidance or a prescription routine to tackle symptoms—including brain fog, hot flashes, sleep trouble, mood swings, and weight gain—we’ve got you covered. Learn more here.
Midi’s mission is to revolutionize healthcare for women at midlife, wherever they live and whatever their health story. We believe that starts with education, to help all of us understand our always-changing bodies and health needs. Our core values guide everything we do, including standards that ensure the quality and trustworthiness of our content and editorial processes. We’re committed to providing information that is up-to-date, accurate, and relies on evidence-based research and peer-reviewed journals. For more details on our editorial process, see here.
