Can Menopause Cause Nausea?

Menopause officially starts when you havenâ€™t had a menstrual cycle for 12 months straight. As you get closer to menopause, you may experience changes in your periods, along with some notorious symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Some women also report nausea before and during menopause. While thereâ€™s no single cause of nausea, itâ€™s possibly linked to hormone changes, other menopausal symptoms, and certain treatments. Itâ€™s also important to know that symptoms greatly vary between women.

If youâ€™re experiencing nausea on a regular basis and you are either in perimenopause or menopause, learn more about the possible causes, so you can discuss this further with a healthcare provider.

Causes of menopause and nausea

Nausea can be a symptom of menopause in some, but not all women. Possible causes include a natural drop in hormone levels, hot flashes, or side effects from hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Decreased hormone levels

Menopause itself occurs as a result of a drop in female hormones called estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are normally produced in your ovaries and help regulate your periods. Your ovaries can decrease the amount of these hormones anywhere between the ages of 40 to 59.

Hormone changes alone may be one cause of nausea during menopause. If you ever noticed nausea before your menstrual cycles, this was likely due to a natural drop in estrogen.

Hot flashes

Hot flashes are considered the most common menopause symptom. These sensations can come and go throughout the day, and are characterized by waves of warmth in your upper body, particularly your head and chest areas. Your skin may also turn red and blotchy.

Aside from warmth, hot flashes can make you sweat. Hot flashes that occur at night can cause drenching night sweats, both of which may interfere with your sleep.

Sometimes hot flashes may be so strong that they can make you feel nauseous. Other possible symptoms include:

headache or migraine, which may also cause nausea
dizziness
heart palpitations
fatigue
chills (â€œcold flashesâ€)

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

HRT consists of laboratory-made estrogen and progestin. While it may help alleviate symptoms during early menopause, there are also serious side effects associated with this treatment when given long-term and in high doses. Some of these risks include blood clots and stroke.

There are also other non-life threatening side effects from HRT, including nausea, among others:

headache
breast tenderness
bloating
mood changes
bleeding

Treatments

Treatment for nausea from menopause may involve a combination of lifestyle or dietary changes, along with prescription medications to help address the underlying causes.

Dietary changes

There are also some foods and beverages that can make nausea and hot flashes worse. You may want to avoid or decrease your consumption of the following:

alcohol
spicy foods
hot foods
hot beverages
caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and tea

You may also ask your doctor whether phytoestrogen-rich foods may help provide relief of your menopause symptoms. While more research needs to be done in terms of efficacy and safety, some women may find relief from naturally occurring low levels of estrogen in plant foods such as soy.

Herbal estrogen products have not been found to be effective or safe.

Alleviating hot flashes with lifestyle changes

If your nausea is related to hot flashes, you may find relief by addressing this underlying cause directly. While you may not be able to avoid hot flashes entirely, the following methods may help reduce their effects on your body:

avoid any known triggers, such as spicy foods and hot drinks
stay in an air conditioned room whenever itâ€™s hot and humid outdoors
drink plenty of water, especially when you start feeling a hot flash begin
dress in layers, preferably of breathable cotton or other natural fabrics
make sure your room is cool at night
keep cool compresses or portable fans handy when traveling outside your home
reduce stress and engage in relaxing activities as much as possible
try to exercise every day, and do so outdoors when the weather is cool
if you smoke, consider trying to stop

Prescription medications

If your symptoms donâ€™t improve with lifestyle changes after three months, your doctor might recommend medications. These may be helpful if you experience nausea as a symptom related to other symptoms of menopause. Possible prescription treatments include:

blood clots
stroke
breast cancer
other health problems

Other symptoms

Nausea during menopause may be caused by hormone changes or be linked to other related symptoms, such as hot flashes.

Aside from nausea and hot flashes though, menopause may cause other symptoms such as:

night sweats
headaches and migraine
nighttime insomnia and daytime fatigue
moodiness and irritability from lack of sleep
depression
stress and anxiety
vaginal dryness
decreased libido
weight gain, or trouble losing weight
increased urination and incontinence
more frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

When to seek care

If youâ€™re concerned about menopause-related nausea, itâ€™s important to talk with a healthcare professional. This is especially the case if your nausea is chronic throughout the day, or if itâ€™s severe enough to interfere with your regular activities.

Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend treatments or lifestyle changes that may help you find nausea relief. They may also make recommendations for treating other symptoms that might be interfering with your quality of life, such as insomnia, decreased libido, and mood changes.

The bottom line

Nausea is a possible symptom of menopause that may be caused by changes in your hormones. It may also be a side effect of hot flashes or HRT. Not everyone will experience nausea while going through menopause.

If you find that your nausea is frequent or severe enough to impact your daily life, talk with a healthcare professional for treatment options. Lifestyle changes may be attempted before trying medications.

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