‘They can induce and exacerbate each other’ – the complex interplay between domestic abuse and the perimenopause: a qualitative study with female survivors

The intersection of DA and perimenopause creates unique vulnerabilities that current UK support systems fail to address. Healthcare providers require training to recognise how trauma and hormonal symptoms can mask or mimic each other. The finding that perimenopause can serve as both a tool of abuse and a catalyst for liberation challenges deficit-focused narratives around both DA and perimenopause. Integrated, trauma-informed approaches are urgently needed across healthcare and support services.