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February 2026.

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

Remember it’s forgetful February

Scampering to escape the chilly weather, spiders always seek the warmth of my Man Shed at this time of year. So, I’m sat here surrounded by cobwebs, which remind me of the mental cobwebs affecting us at home.

I remember when my partner was experiencing quite a lot of forgetfulness and menopausal brain fog and it’s worth reminding my male reader friends that this is very common in perimenopause and menopause.

Don’t be too harsh on your partner if you are noticing things are being forgotten and be supportive because this is all part and parcel of this phase of life.

During Forgetful February, your peri- or menopausal partner might be leaving the cooker on, constantly forgetting their phone, misplacing their purse or keys. They might also forget to take their HRT, which can be disastrous. We have children, dogs and cats, and they can all get called the wrong name!

Essentially, forgetfulness or brain fog in menopause is interruption in normal neurological processing. This means a fluent memory and function are limited by huge shifts in hormones, in sleep-wake cycles and neurotransmitters.

If a woman’s estrogen drops off in early menopause, and she is not replacing that with adequate HRT, then brain function decreases because it is lacking key hormones that help drive these functions.

Emotional ups and downs can also occur, losing one of the foundations that has been there for years. This is very stressful for the body, which can produce more of the stress hormone, Cortisol. This causes inflammation, and can create neuro-inflammation, and as a result, the brain is down-regulated and struggles with information.

Tip 1: If your partner is on HRT or supplementation, suggest putting it next to her toothbrush. I definitely recommend you buy her a pill box. Then you’ll know if she has taken her medication if the pill is in there or not.
Tip 2: To ease her stress, prioritise relaxation activities, which aid the nervous system and optimise brain function, memory and performance why not suggest a yoga or a meditative breathwork session. Relaxation improves brain function and may ease her forgetfulness.
Tip 3: Share aerobic exercises together, like brisk walking, which also allows you to chat about things you have to do. This activity produces endorphins, which are natural anti-stress chemicals that make you feel calm and help improve mental function.
Tip 4: Finally, consider external memory aids, diaries, making lists, or using voice-activated reminders like Alexa (other brands are available). You can programme in regular features you’re forgetting, like when the kids need to be driven somewhere, or to remind them to switch off the TV.

And while we’re discussing your partner’s forgetfulness, guys, don’t you forget it’s Valentine’s Day this month. Well remembered!

If you’ve got a question for Our Man in The Man Shed Dr Ben Sinclair, you can email him on drben@menopausematters.co.uk

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:
drben@menopausematters.co.uk.

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