OBJECTIVES: This study explored menopausal experiences and couple interactions among Chinese women and their male partners within a cultural context. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative phenomenological approach was adopted. In total, 20 menopausal women (i.e. undergoing menopausal transition or within 12 months after their final menstrual period) and 4 male partners, including 2 matched couples, underwent semi-structured interviews. Data were collected between March 2024 and May 2025 and analyzed via Braun and Clarke's six-phase inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The analysis indicated that women had multifaceted menopausal experiences, including physical symptoms, emotional fluctuations, and effects on daily functioning. Their male partners primarily provided practical support but exhibited limited emotional responsiveness. An exploratory dyadic analysis of two couples revealed three patterns of couple interaction: synchronized adaptation, support discrepancy, and cognitive-emotional asynchrony. CONCLUSIONS: Menopause was experienced not only as an individual transition but also as a relational process. Moreover, differences in partner responses and couple interactions emphasized the complexity of menopausal adaptation within intimate relationships. The exploratory dyadic findings indicate the potential value of considering partners in menopause-related care and underscore the need to conduct further research involving larger and more diverse dyadic samples.
Chen et al. (Wed,) studied this question.