Lesser-Known Menopause Symptoms

The menopause transition often causes more than just hot flashes, night sweats, mood disturbances, and fatigue. While these common symptoms are widely discussed, lesser-known symptoms can catch individuals off guard. These symptoms, though less talked about, can also significantly impact a woman’s quality of life.

Eight Lesser Known Menopause Symptoms

1. Voice Changes

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause — characterized by declining estrogen and progesterone levels and disrupted testosterone levels — can lead to noticeable changes in the voice. Hoarseness, a lowered pitch, and vocal fatigue are common but often overlooked. These changes can be particularly distressing for professionals who rely on their voices, such as teachers and public speakers. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help alleviate these issues by stabilizing hormonal levels.⁽¹⁾

2. Taste Changes and Burning Tongue

Almost half of menopausal women experience alterations in taste and a burning sensation in the mouth. This condition, often described as a metallic or fiery taste in the mouth, may interfere with the enjoyment of food. The underlying cause is a drop in estrogen and progesterone levels, which affects saliva production, causing oral dryness, soreness, and tingling (burning) sensations.⁽²⁾⁽³⁾

3. Bowel Incontinence

Menopause can aggravate age-related changes in the pelvic muscles, often worsened by pregnancy and childbirth. Reduced levels of estrogen and testosterone contribute to weakened pelvic floor muscles, leading to bowel incontinence. HRT can help improve muscle tone, allowing women to regain pelvic strength and confidence in daily activities such as sneezing, laughing, or exercising.⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾

4. Itchy and Rash-Prone Skin

The loss of hormonal lubrication due to reduced estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone impacts skin hydration and elasticity. This can result in itching and increased sensitivity to fabrics, soaps, and perfumes, sometimes causing a rash known as contact dermatitis. Moisturizers, emollients, and HRT may help restore the skin’s natural hydration.⁽⁶⁾

5. Easy Bruising

Decreasing estrogen levels during menopause can lead to thinner skin, making bruises more common. Reduced skin elasticity and a decline in collagen production may further contribute to this, causing even minor bumps to leave visible marks.⁽⁶⁾

6. Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations, sometimes described as fluttering, pounding, or skipped beats, are linked to hormonal shifts and are often triggered by hot flashes. While occasional palpitations are usually temporary and harmless, they can be alarming and may resemble symptoms of heart disease. An irregular heartbeat, which involves a consistent change from the normal sinus heart rhythm, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.⁽⁷⁾⁽⁸⁾

7. Electric Shocks

Sudden electric-shock-like sensations, often radiating from the head or extremities, may signal the start of a hot flash. These jolts, ranging from mild discomfort to sharp pain, are believed to stem from hormonal imbalances that affect nerve signaling. Persistent or severe shocks may require medical assessment.^(9)(10)

8. Tingling Sensations

Pins-and-needles sensations or numbness throughout the body, sometimes accompanied by a "crawling" feeling, are associated with reduced estrogen levels. These symptoms may result from the impact of hormone loss on nerve health. Proper diagnosis is essential to rule out other, more serious conditions.^(9)(10)

Three Chronic Conditions Linked to Menopause

1. Diabetes

In some women, hormonal imbalances during menopause can disrupt blood sugar regulation, increasing the risk of diabetes. Elevated blood sugar levels could potentially lead to weight gain and metabolic syndrome, raising the risk of complications like heart attack and stroke. Lifestyle improvements and HRT have been shown to help stabilize glucose levels.⁽¹¹⁾

2. High Cholesterol

Declining estrogen levels are linked to increases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) and decreases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good" cholesterol). This imbalance can increase plaque buildup in the arteries, heightening the risk of cardiovascular disease. Regular monitoring and treatment can reduce these risks, while regular exercise can help raise healthy HDL cholesterol levels.⁽¹¹⁾

3. High Blood Pressure and Stroke

Blood pressure may increase in certain women during menopause. This is partly due to hormonal changes, elevated cortisol levels, and menopause-related weight gain. Strategies such as managing hormone balance and maintaining a healthy weight can help lower the risk of stroke. For those prone to high blood pressure, regular preventive medical visits and careful blood pressure monitoring are essential.⁽¹¹⁾

A Smooth Menopause Journey

Menopause is a natural stage of life, yet its lesser-known symptoms can feel strange and unsettling. These symptoms and conditions often stem from hormonal imbalances, making early recognition and appropriate care essential. With the right treatments — such as HRT, lifestyle changes, or other targeted approaches — many of these challenges can be effectively managed, allowing women to maintain and even improve their overall health. By understanding the impact of hormonal changes and seeking guidance from healthcare professionals, this transition can become a period of renewal and balance.

Experiencing these menopausal symptoms? Discover if HRT is right for you.

If you’ve entered the menopause transition and are struggling with well-known or lesser-known symptoms, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Take our brief menopause quiz to see if you’re an eligible candidate for HRT. Get started with Winona to take the first step toward feeling better.