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April 2025.

Dr Ben writes a new Blog at the start of every month for our Man Shed section.

Perimenopause: Time for a summer holiday re-think?

My rickety old Man Shed chair is temporarily out of commission, so as I write this bulletin, I’m perched on a dusty oil can. I must emphasise, it was the chair’s fault that it broke, not mine, although I confess it’s reminded me that my waistline is no longer quite what it used to be when I was in my 20s.

I’m also aware that, if she’ll forgive me for saying so, my Other Half is, to a much lesser extent, in a similar position and right now may be pondering how she’s going to feel on our usual beach holiday this summer.

Controversially in the past, unwelcome and unhelpful advertising has pushed the notion of body perfection and depicted stereotypical images of young, slim people with perfect bodies enjoying beach holidays. But, as we all know, reality is a different beast.

As the warmer weather arrives, I recommend now’s a good time for my male readers to focus energy on what is attainable for both you and your partner in the next few months. You might consider ways to nurture yourselves into good habits that will help you both feel better about yourselves when you’re on your summer beach holiday.

During perimenopause, many changes are happening to your partner’s mental state and hormones, with resultant physical changes. Collagen degrades, meaning more lines appear on the skin. Water is retained in tissues to a greater extent and it’s harder to lose fat in ‘The Change’.

‘Keep communication channels open and your finger on the pulse’

There may be some low self-esteem or loss of confidence associated with unexpected physical changes, which feel out of control. As a caring partner, it’s important never to comment, but merely to quietly offer support and structure a good environment to manage these changes.

This might include, as the evenings grow lighter, encouraging or organising outdoor activities, like walking after meals, which may help reduce fat deposition. Or ensuring you both choose good sleep over the latest Netflix series and get to bed on time. Thinking about how you can support each other towards healthier options can only be a positive move for both parties in my book!

Obviously this is a sensitive area, so you could also consider suggesting a joint health campaign focusing on switching to habits you can both partake in over the coming months, ones that will make you feel great when you take that break.

And, just because you’ve always gone to that same coastal resort, don’t assume your Other Half necessarily wants to stick to that routine at this time. Instead of Spain, you might suggest a City break as an alternative if confidence is an issue. Stay flexible and remember nobody is forcing you to re-book that same beach holiday.

Keep communication channels open and your finger on the pulse because you’re more likely to have a happy and healthy partner if you’re aware of her needs, especially now in the holiday season.

If you’ve got a question for Our Man in The Man Shed Dr Ben Sinclair, you can email him on [email protected]

Welcome to The Man Shed and I’m delighted to be your man in it!

My name is Dr Ben Sinclair (please just call me ‘Dr Ben’, everyone does), and I’ve been a GP for nearly 20 years. Bear with me a sec while I shift these spare paint tins and get my laptop set up…

If you’ve got a question for Our Man in The Man Shed, Dr Ben Sinclair, you can email him on:
[email protected].

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