{"id":5153,"date":"2022-12-05T09:43:56","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T09:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/?post_type=menopauselibrary&#038;p=5153"},"modified":"2022-12-05T09:45:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T09:45:11","slug":"domestic-abuse-and-the-menopause-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"menopauselibrary","link":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/menopause-library\/domestic-abuse-and-the-menopause-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Domestic abuse and the menopause: what you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Help and advice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On average the police in England and Wales receive more than 100 domestic abuse-related calls &nbsp;every hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And across the UK, police forces often see a spike in domestic abuse-related calls at Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, we look at the link between domestic abuse and menopause, and crucially, where to find help and support if you need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is domestic abuse?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According to charity Women\u2019s Aid<\/a>, domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men, says Women\u2019s Aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Domestic abuse can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Physical or sexual abuse<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Violent or threatening behaviour<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Psychological or emotional abuse<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coercive behaviour \u2013 including humiliation or intimidation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Controlling behaviour \u2013 making you feel less important, or dependent on your abuser<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Economic abuse \u2013 this includes controlling someone&#8217;s possessions or how they earn or spend money<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is there a link between menopause and domestic abuse?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/news\/menopause-puts-final-nail-in-marriage-coffin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A survey<\/a> by The Family Law Menopause Project and Newson Health Research and Education on the impact of menopause on relationships found that two thirds (67%) of women who had divorced or separated reported an increase in domestic abuse and arguments during the menopause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, a 2020 report by the charity AVA (Against Violence and Abuse) stated there was a \u2018two-way\u2019 relationship between menopause and domestic abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Menopause impacts women\u2019s relationships, and domestic abuse may impact menopause symptoms, with negative symptoms or experiences compounding or obscuring one another,\u2019 the report stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The AVA report also highlighted how nearly four in ten (39%) women killed by men in the UK are in the 36-55 age range. The majority of UK women will start to experience perimenopausal symptoms in their forties, while the average of menopause in the UK is 51.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Louise Newson, GP, Menopause Specialist and founder of the free balance menopause support app, says there is <a href=\"https:\/\/jech.bmj.com\/content\/58\/11\/938\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">growing evidence<\/a> that domestic violence can increase during the perimenopause and menopause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Menopausal women who have been the victims of domestic abuse are often struggling with symptoms too. &nbsp;Some women have told me that they feel so utterly dreadful and lack so much confidence that they \u201cdeserve\u201d to be abused,\u2018 she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018This is absolutely not the case; all forms of domestic abuse are completely unacceptable, and I would urge anyone who is experiencing abuse to seek help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Remember, it is not your fault and you are not alone.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Getting help and support for domestic abuse<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are in immediate danger, <strong>call 999 and ask for the police<\/strong>. If you are unable to speak and are calling on a mobile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help#how-to-call-the-police-when-you-cant-speak\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press 55<\/a> to have your call transferred to the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You do not have to wait for an emergency situation to seek help, and remember you are not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For free, confidential advice, 24 hours a day you can contact a domestic abuse helpline listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>England : <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Refuge\u2019s National Domestic Abuse Helpline<\/a> 0808 2000 247<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Northern Ireland: <a href=\"https:\/\/dsahelpline.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline<\/a> 0808 802 1414<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scotland: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sdafmh.org.uk\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline<\/a> 0800 027 1234<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wales: <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.wales\/live-fear-free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Live Fear Free<\/a>: 0808 80 10 800<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>References<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Allsworth, J.E et al. (2004), \u2018Longitudinal study of the inception of perimenopause in relation to lifetime history of sexual or physical violence\u2019, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 58 (11), pp. 938\u201343. <a href=\"https:\/\/jech.bmj.com\/content\/58\/11\/938\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doi.org\/10.1136\/jech.2003.017160<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/avaproject.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Research-briefing-Menopause-and-DA-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Against Violence and Abuse (AVA) (2021): Menopause and domestic abuse: early findings from AVA\u2019s stuck in the middle with you project<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/avaproject.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Guidance-for-GPs-Menopause-and-DA-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AVA (2021): Menopause and domestic abuse: brief guidance for staff and clinicians in general practice<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.femicidecensus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/010998-2020-Femicide-Report_V2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Femicide Census (2020)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk\/hmicfrs\/wp-content\/uploads\/increasingly-everyones-business-domestic-abuse-progress-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Her Majesty\u2019s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) (2015): Increasingly everyone\u2019s business: A progress report on the police response to domestic abuse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Home Office (2021) Domestic abuse: how to get help<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merseyside.police.uk\/news\/merseyside\/news\/2021\/december\/support-for-domestic-abuse-victims-at-christmas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Merseyside Police (2021): Support for domestic abuse victims at Christmas<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Help and advice on domestic abuse and the menopause<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1342,"template":"","subject":[42],"content-type":[6],"library-format":[19],"library-author":[],"class_list":["post-5153","menopauselibrary","type-menopauselibrary","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","subject-relationships","content-type-article","library-format-read"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/menopauselibrary\/5153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/menopauselibrary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/menopauselibrary"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=5153"},{"taxonomy":"content-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type?post=5153"},{"taxonomy":"library-format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library-format?post=5153"},{"taxonomy":"library-author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.balance-menopause.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library-author?post=5153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}