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Leaving a marriage is certainly tough. Breaking away from someone after spending many years together and letting go of all the memories, experiences, and feelings that you had with them is a difficult process. Although getting a divorce can sometimes be the right choice, the word itself often comes with a lot of negative feelings. In a time where trends change quickly, divorce has also developed its own set of trendy terms: ‘grey divorce’, ‘sleep divorce’, ‘silent divorce’, ‘airport divorce’, and others. Now, a new term has appeared—menodivorce. This term, created online, suggests that menopause or the time before it is making more women rethink their marriages, with many deciding to part ways with their husbands.
A recent study conducted by NOON, a platform that supports middle-aged women, found that one out of three women aged 45 to 65 is open to leaving their marriages. The survey, which gathered feedback from over 2,000 women in the UK, also indicated that 46 percent of divorces are initiated by women. After being married for a long time, couples often settle into a routine of managing a household and fulfilling their roles, which can lead to a loss of emotional connection in the relationship.
In a conversation with India Today, relationship expert Suvarna Varde mentioned that “In my experience, many women find a sense of freedom in midlife divorce because it’s the first time they focus on what they want. They finally have the chance to reflect on their own needs.” While experts haven’t entirely dismissed the link between menopause and increased feelings of freedom during midlife, changes in hormones often play a role. Many women expect the physical signs of menopause but are sometimes unprepared for the emotional challenges that come with it.
Experts explain that lower stress tolerance, trouble sleeping, increased irritability, and a reduced sex drive—the physical and emotional effects of menopause—can highlight unmet needs in a marriage. As hormonal changes increase emotional sensitivity and make the nervous system more reactive, unresolved issues appear more clearly. Consequently, women may desire more emotional closeness and intimacy. Though there is no clear study showing a link between menopause and divorce, specialists believe that hormonal changes might emphasize existing problems in a partnership and lessen the ability to tolerate issues.
However, Dr. Varde also pointed out that this time can strengthen couples. “In a solid marriage, partners have already learned to manage changes, and they handle this phase well with some outside support. Problems arise in couples already struggling with deep-seated issues.” Menopause can alter a woman's body, but how a couple deals with these changes depends on their relationship and emotional bond.
