Can Menopause Cause Nausea?

It is well-known that many women feel nausea symptoms during pregnancy, especially early pregnancy when morning sickness can be a real affliction (morning sickness is a misnomer - it can happen any time of day and may or may not result in vomiting.)

The same hormonal changes (estrogen levels dropping) that happen during early pregnancy also happen during perimenopause—the stage of transition before menopause. So it is common to also experience nausea during this transition before you enter menopause properly.

After menopause (when you have gone without a period for more than 12 months), your body should be regulating again, so nausea should subside and your body should settle into a new pattern.

Let’s better understand menopause and perimenopause first!

What Is Menopause?

Many people use the term “menopause” for the entire transition from reproductive years to non-menstruating years. But medically speaking, you’ve entered menopause only when you’ve gone without a period for more than 12 months (you are no longer ovulating at all and therefore cannot become pregnant.)

So menopause is more the “After” state than the “Transition” state. And a lot of the symptoms we associate with the winding down of our reproductive years (including nausea) will have settled when we’re finally, fully menopausal.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause means “around menopause.” The time before menopause is known as perimenopause and it can last anywhere between 1 and 10 years. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, “You may notice signs of progression toward menopause, such as menstrual irregularity, sometime in your 40s. But some women notice changes as early as their mid-30s.”

The transition from reproductive years to menopause can be a very gradual one. It can span years and be a time of great fluctuation in your feeling of well-being. Your periods do not stop abruptly, but you may start to experience missed periods, late periods, or even heavier periods as they wind down.

Your hormone levels are governing all of these changes, and we all know the impact hormones can have on our bodies. But just like PMS, pregnancy, and other times of massive drops or surges in hormones, these changes do not impact every person in the same way. 

From a hormonal standpoint, perimenopause is characterized by irregular estrogen and progesterone levels. For some, the symptoms of perimenopause can be extreme. For others, they will be mild. This can make it difficult to know when one is in perimenopause. A lot of these symptoms can have other explanations too (including PMS, pregnancy, or just general health/well-being!)

If perimenopause sounds like a rollercoaster, it certainly can be. But let’s explore the symptoms and better understand what nausea can be a problem during perimenopause.

Perimenopause Symptoms / Menopause Symptoms

Let’s look in more detail at some of the major symptoms of perimenopause/menopausal symptoms.

Changes to Your Period

During perimenopause, you may notice changes to your menstrual cycles. Some of these changes can be extreme opposites of each other, from lighter periods to heavier periods. This is caused by the extreme fluctuation of your hormone levels. 

Some women may experience all of these changes, while others will just experience some. Below are some of the possibilities. If it reads like perimenopause is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, that’s not surprising—many women feel that way!

Less Frequent or Irregular Periods

Because you will start ovulating less as you approach menopause, your entire menstrual cycle may not run like clockwork anymore. This can mean less frequent periods, including skipped months. These infrequencies will increase as perimenopause progresses. This is part of the reason why doctors wait a full 12 months before confirming that you have passed into menopause.

Spotting or Lighter Periods

You might also experience very light menstrual periods or spotting between periods. Considering periods become irregular at this stage, it can be easy to mistake the stage you’re in for menopause. It’s worth tracking your periods and any irregular bleeding in a journal or app so you and your doctor can understand what stage you’re in.

Longer Periods or Heavy Bleeding

As periods become infrequent, sometimes the lining of the uterus has more time to become thicker. This means that when your uterus sheds its lining, there will be a longer and heavier period. If periods become excessively heavy, you may be at risk of anemia, or it might be a symptom of something else. So monitor your cycle and determine if you need to seek medical advice. 

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Hot flashes are commonly associated with menopause. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The cause of hot flashes isn't known, but it's likely related to several factors. These include changes in reproductive hormones and your body's thermostat (hypothalamus), which becomes more sensitive to slight changes in body temperature.”

Night sweats are hot flashes that occur while sleeping. They can have the added complication of disrupting sleep and causing insomnia.

Nausea, Mood Swings, Weight Gain and So Much More…

Sorry to be a bearer of potentially bad news, but the list of other menopausal symptoms is quite long. The good news is not all perimenopausal women experience these symptoms. And they may be less intense for some. The list includes:

• Nausea: Fluctuating estrogen levels can result in feelings of nausea.
• Mood swings & anxiety: Any fluctuation in hormones can have a knock-on effect on your mood. Many report feeling more anxious or having sudden flashes of rage.
• Weight gain: Sudden changes in weight or digestion can also point to perimenopause. If your diet, nutrition, and exercise levels are fairly stable and you find yourself experiencing weight gain, that may be a symptom of perimenopause.
• Vaginal dryness: Vaginal or endometrial atrophy occurs in some women after menopause. The body produces less estrogen after menopause, which can lead to the thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls. During perimenopause this process can begin, resulting in dryness.
• Changes in sexual desire or satisfaction: Some women report changes in sexual desire and arousal due to fluctuating hormones.
• Sleep troubles: Apart from night sweats, general sleep can become unpredictable during perimenopause and beyond. It can also be hard to fall asleep, with some experiencing insomnia.
• Bone loss: With declining estrogen levels, your bone density may decrease as you start to lose bone more quickly than you replace it. For some, this can increase the risk of osteoporosis — a disease that causes fragile bones in women.
• Bladder problems: Low estrogen levels may also make you more vulnerable to urinary or vaginal infections. Loss of tissue strength may contribute to urinary incontinence.

Menopausal Symptoms: Nausea and its “Sister Symptoms”

Some symptoms like to strike all at once, unleashing a double- or even triple-whammy of awfulness on your day and making your nausea worse. Menopause nausea in particular can often be accompanied by the following.

Headaches

Severe headaches can also manifest with (of course) head pain, but also photo-sensitivity (sensitivity to light) and feelings of nausea. If you have a headache, it’s not unusual to also feel queasy and lose your appetite. If you can, lie down in the dark.

Digestive Issues (Bloating, Constipation, Diarrhea)

Menopause-related nausea can also be accompanied by a whole host of digestive issues. Digestive issues can also make your tummy feel sensitive and nauseous. 

Dizziness

Dizziness can be a symptom of many things, including anemia (which may occur if you have heavier periods), but it can also accompany nausea and general feelings of wooziness.

Wondering if You’re in Perimenopause? Take Our Quiz

The symptoms of perimenopause are numerous, and they can also be easily confused with other things going on in our bodies. In real-life situations where you’re juggling all the world throws at you, they can easily become confusing. Perimenopausal women may also wonder:

• Am I just stressed (work, world events, family life, etc.)
• Am I just run down?
• Maybe I’m coming down with the flu/cold/COVID?
• Maybe my body is just a little out of whack?
• Have I let my healthy habits slide a bit?
• Perhaps I’m just PMS-ing!
• Am I pregnant?

This means it can be difficult to say decisively if one is experiencing perimenopause or something else. And the situation can be even more confusing if you’re typically prone to an irregular menstrual cycle. It might be hard to spot the differences.

To help you navigate these uncertainties, we’ve devised a little quiz. Check it out here…

Real Talk: Some Ways to Manage Perimenopausal Symptoms

Nothing replaces real medical advice from a trained professional. And although perimenopause is having a “moment” on social media, be careful hopping on bandwagons of taking supplements or changing your diet based on social media or opinion pieces. It is always worth talking to your doctor about making these kinds of changes, and even what preventative measures you might start pursuing in the run-up to perimenopause that might alleviate the severity of symptoms.

That said, there are some consumer products that might be helpful to add to your arsenal as you navigate these changes:

Leakproof Underwear to Help Manage Sweat or Light Bladder Leaks

If you’re experiencing night sweats and hot flashes, irregular bleeding, or light bladder leaks, your confidence might take a real dip. Leakproof underwear can help manage those symptoms as you go through these erratic experiences. Knix leakproof underwear is a solid choice.

Ginger to Soothe Your Tummy

Fresh ginger or ginger chews (or even flat ginger ale or ginger tea) can help soothe an upset tummy. Having some ginger chews around (in your purse or your pantry) can help you overcome those feelings of nausea.

Cooler Bedding to Help You Have a Restful Sleep

If you’re experiencing night sweats, consider changing your bedding. Linen sheets can help keep you cool. You might want to swap your duvet for a warm-weather weight so you don’t get too hot at night.

There are also some things you might consider decreasing or eliminating altogether (with medical supervision, where required), including:

Reduce Your Intake of Spicy Foods

Spicy foods can make you feel hot and exacerbate hot flashes and feelings of nausea. If hot flashes are really affecting you, you might want to limit your spice intake or take care of the time of day you eat. 

Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

Alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on our sleep and digestion so if you’re battling perimenopause symptoms, cutting back on your alcohol intake may help. 

Stop Smoking

It’s never a bad idea to quit smoking and perimenopause symptoms can sometimes be more severe for smokers (smokers are also more likely to experience early menopause too - source). If you’re considering quitting, talk to your doctor as there may be side effects as you come off cigarettes. They can also offer support and advice about how to quit successfully.

In general, it’s never a bad idea to follow a healthy balanced diet (lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and a good amount of healthy protein). It’s also good to get balanced consistent exercise that builds strength as well as works your heart.  Being healthy will help mitigate menopause symptoms. 

Finally, to alleviate symptoms of nausea, consider fewer, small meals (big meals, especially close to bedtime can exacerbate feelings of bloatedness and nausea.

When to See a Doctor

Any time something is persistently problematic or it interferes with your ability to function day-to-day, it’s worth chatting with your doctor. Ideally, you’re seeing your doctor for an annual checkup and having conversations about the stage of life you’re in, what’s considered medically ‘normal’, how to optimize your health, and other medical options for more extreme physical symptoms. If you're experiencing nausea, definitely bring it up at your next checkup.

Hormone Replacement Therapy to Treat Menopause Symptoms

Hormone replacement therapy is medication to replace the estrogen that your body starts to lose during perimenopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be used to treat severe hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. It can also prevent bone loss and prevent fractures in women after menopause. 

However, HRT has associated risks too, including a risk of heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer. Overall, HRT is neither all good nor all bad. Whether it’s right for you will depend on a number of factors, including your medical history, general health, and the severity of your symptoms. It’s advisable to work with your healthcare provider to determine if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

In These Cases, Don’t Wait… 

There are particular times when you should go out of your way to make a trip to the doctor (i.e. not just wait for your next check-up). These include:

• Heavy periods with a lot of clotting (especially clots larger than a quarter)
• Spotting between periods accompanied by abdominal pain or cramping
• Pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• Unusual vaginal discharge and/or redness and itchiness

Even if you know you’re in perimenopause, if any of your symptoms become worrying, go to your doctor. Hopefully, they’ll give you peace of mind. But it’s also possible other things are going on and the sooner you have those looked into, the better.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.