Camilla Jessen
Middle-aged women are ditching their husbands for an unexpected reason.
A growing number of women are walking away from long-term marriages.
Not because of midlife crises, as reported by Unilad, but because of a deeper, hormone-fueled awakening.
The Rise of ‘Menodivorce’
Divorces sparked by menopause — dubbed menodivorce — are quietly becoming more common, especially among women in their late 40s and early 50s.
Experts say it’s not just about relationship dissatisfaction. It’s about a life shift.
A Key Factor in Marital Breakdown
According to a 2022 UK-based survey by the Family Law Menopause Project and Newsom Health Research and Education, seven in 10 women cited perimenopause or menopause as a key factor in their marital breakdown.
And U.S. trends echo that change.
A study from Bowling Green State University’s National Center for Family and Marriage Research revealed that one in four divorces in 2019 involved adults aged 50 or older, a sharp rise from just one in ten in 1990.
“It Was an Awakening”
Melissa McClure, who divorced after 14 years of marriage while going through perimenopause, told USA Today:
“We spend our entire adult lives taking care of our husbands or partners and children. We give so much of ourselves… that we lose ourselves in the process.”
She doesn’t see her decision as a breakdown, but a breakthrough.
“Life Is Too Long, Not Too Short”
Another woman, Katy Viva, said her decision to leave her husband of 24 years wasn’t just about menopause, but it pushed her over the edge.
“Menopause made me unwilling to put up with the bullsh*t anymore,” she said. “Life is too long, not too short.”
What the Experts Say
Dr. Sameena Rahman, an OB-GYN and menopause specialist, explains that many women experience physical and emotional shifts that challenge the very foundation of their relationships.
“They might still love their husbands… but they also hate them,” Dr. Rahman told USA Today. “It’s often the little things — how someone chews or looks at them — that become unbearable.”
Hormones and Resentment
Increased stress, loss of libido, anxiety, and irritability are just a few of the changes women undergo during perimenopause.
Coupled with long-simmering resentment or unspoken needs, it can push women toward big decisions.
A Call for Awareness
Experts aren’t warning about menodivorce to place blame. Rather, they want to highlight a critical period when support, communication, and awareness are more important than ever.
“Menopause is not the enemy,” said Dr. Rahman. “But ignoring how it affects relationships can be.”
