Women Experience More Pain Than Men In These 11 Body Parts

Posted on 19/10/2026 by Boris Clair

In a huge study analysing the self-reported pain data of over 6 million people has found that women experience more pain on average than men do in 11 body parts.

Speaking to Medical News Today, author Matt Fillingim, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University in Montreal, Canada said: “The difference probably reflects a combination of biological and social factors, including sex hormones, immune function, nervous-system pain processing, stress, reproductive burdens, occupational exposures, healthcare use, and differences in how symptoms are reported.”

The sharpest increases in self-reported pain tend to occur before the age of 55

The areas where women reported more pain than men

According to the study, women experience more pain in the head, face, neck and shoulder area, hand and wrist area, elbows, foot and ankle sites, the knees, the chest, the back, abdominal area, and the hips. The highest prevalence was for back pain, at 40%.

Shuchita Garg, MD, an associate professor of clinical medicine in the Department of Anesthesia/Division of Chronic Pain, and the medical director of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Pain Clinic commented on the findings.

She said: “The reasons why women have a higher prevalence of pain are complicated and include biological, hormonal, and psychosocial elements, the greatest differences being found in the case of facial and abdominal pain, headaches as well as in instances of severe symptoms.

“The differences are greatest in the case of migraine, temporomandibular, and visceral pain — conditions which correspond with the reproductive years. It is believed that pubertal development and sex hormones cause the difference between adolescent boys and girls.”

Interestingly, pain across all the studied anatomical sites, across genders, increased in prevalence most rapidly before the age of 55.

Quite astounding, then, that women’s pain still isn’t taken seriously.

It’s worth noting that men are less likely to report pain

While this report offers damning facts about the pain women experience, it’s also worth noting that in the UK at least, men are less likely to report pain or get much-needed treatment for symptoms than women are.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care: “Evidence shows that across the NHS Health Check, a cardiovascular disease prevention programme, men are less likely to attend a health check (45.3%) compared with women (54.7%).

“As a result, fewer men than women are provided with the necessary advice, signposting and onward referral available through the NHS Health Check to manage and reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke and related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia.”

If you are experiencing pain, seek treatment

If you are experiencing chronic or unexplained pain, speak to your GP or pharmacist for support. There is no shame in getting the treatment that you need and it could even prevent worsening of symptoms.

Dr Karan Rajan, an NHS surgeon advises being as specific as possible when explaining your symptoms, explaining that instead of saying something like “I get dizzy a lot”, you should instead go into detail with phrasing such as “I get dizzy when I stand up, especially in the morning. It’s worse after eating or after I’ve been sitting for a long period of time.”

If there are times that your pain is worse or anything that exacerbates it, be sure to note this to your GP.

Nearly 1 In 2 Women Have Their Menopause Symptoms Dismissed Says New Research

Posted on 16/10/2026 by Boris Clair

Research into menopause and perimenopause is vastly improving. This means that while we may have always associated mood swings and hot flushes with these life changes, we have learned that they can actually fundamentally change the body.

While this is very hopeful for future generations of women, a new survey conducted by Holland and Barrett in partnership with Menopause Mandate has found that 46% of women are still having perimenopause and menopause symptoms dismissed by other women.

Additionally, the research found an age disparity with younger women entering perimenopause feeling the most isolated. Over half (51% of 30–44-year-olds have reported symptom doubt, compared to 40 per cent of those aged 55 or over.

Women are dedicating an average of 2.3 hours a week to ‘menopause admin’

Beyond managing their symptoms, women are dedicating on average over two hours a week to menopause admin. This includes:

Menopause comes with a range of symptoms including difficulty concentrating, electric shocks on the skin, vaginal atrophy and recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs).

A full range of potential menopause symptoms can be found on The Menopause Charity’s website but it’s fair to say, we are likely dismissing one another’s symptoms because we simply don’t know the extent of the changes menopause can bring.

Laura Biggs, Founding Director at Menopause Mandate, comments: “Perimenopause and menopause can affect women in very different ways, and symptoms can change over time. It’s so important that women know what they might experience and can find help and support when they need it.

“Since launching in 2022, the Menopause Mandate nurse helpline has offered free advice from trained professionals.”

Rete Ovarii: The Female Body Part Ignored For Decades May Be Key For Ovary Health

Posted on 21/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Ever heard of the “rete ovarii”?

If you answered “no”, you have every reason. Even though it was discovered and described in humans over 150 years ago (drawings of it appear in early copies of Grey’s Anatomy, an anatomy reference book that’s been running since 1858), scientists quickly dubbed it purposeless.

The structure, which lies near the ovaries, became so ignored that it was eventually removed from textbooks altogether. It was considered a “functionless vestige” of the adult ovary, meaning experts decided it was a useless evolutionary holdover.

But a study from Duke University suggests that the body part might play a role in fertility and ovarian health and maintenance for those with wombs.

While the research was conducted on mice, researchers think the findings could apply to humans too; the structure has been seen in lots of other mammals, and our sex organs develop in a manner very similar to those of a mouse.

What is the rete ovarii?

Sometimes shortened to RO, the rete ovarii is a horseshoe-shaped “network of tubules and cords” that is attached to the ovary.

As it happens, those with penises have an equivalent: the rete testis, which we know helps to transport sperm.

What does the rete ovarii do?

We don’t know yet – but new imaging technology has offered exciting suggestions which would render the rete ovarii far from useless.

The “rediscovered” rete ovarii was found to have three distinct regions in both living mice and animals’ dissected tissue:

The intraovarian rete (IOR), found in the ovary
The extraovarian rete (EOR), made up of that network of tubes we mentioned earlier
The connecting rete (CR), which joins up the IOR and CR

The EOR seems to contain and produce proteins like insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), which may play a role in ovary function.

And after placing fluorescent dye in the EOR, they found it seemed to propel liquid towards the ovary, too. That suggests it may have a role in how the appendage operates or maintains itself.

Not only that, but experiments pointed to the possibility that the rete ovarii might switch on genes that affect how hormone receptors work.

The paper reads: “The direct proximity of the RO to the ovary suggests that it is functionally linked to the ovary and may play an important role in ovary development and homeostasis [self-regulation].

“Based on the cell biology, transcriptome and proteome of the RO, I hypothesise that the RO acts as an antenna for the ovary and plays an important role in ovary homeostasis and fertility.”

This could prove a springboard for further studies

More research is needed to confirm or disprove that hypothesis, or indeed to find any other possible uses of the rete ovarii.

Speaking to Live Science, the study’s lead author, Dilara Anbarci, said: “There’s still so much we can’t even begin to comprehend about female anatomy.

“I hope this encourages more investigation in reevaluating what we don’t already know about the ovary.”

25% Of Women Don’t Discuss Discharge With Their GP – When To Worry

Posted on 13/09/2026 by Boris Clair

While we have made some strides in tacking taboos surrounding women’s health, there are still some topics that many of us are uncomfortable discussing even with our doctors.

In fact, according to new research conducted by Femtech health brand Daye, a quarter of people surveyed said they would feel too ashamed to raise concerns about discharge with their GP and almost half wouldn’t speak to their pharmacist about it, either.

This research was commissioned by Daye for their ‘Discharge The Taboo’ campaign, which aims to challenge misconceptions around vaginal discharge and reframes discharge as data. For the most part, discharge is a sign of a healthy body doing its job, and when it changes, it’s one of the clearest early signals that something may be wrong.

We need to crack down on the shame around vaginal discharge

According to Daye, health experts say delaying conversations about changes in vaginal discharge could mean infections and other gynaecological conditions take longer to be diagnosed, underlining the importance of recognising changes and seeking advice when something doesn’t seem right.

To help break down this taboo, Daye has launched The Stains Explained series featuring gynaecological expert, founder, and CEO of the brand Valentina Milanova. In this series, the brand have created videos which explain the difference between normal vaginal discharge and the warning signs, helping women build confidence in understanding their bodies and encouraging more open conversations.

Commenting on the shame surrounding discharge, Milanova added: “Vaginal discharge is a normal, healthy part of the body’s natural defence system, yet generations of women have grown up believing it’s something to hide.

“Schools hardly educated us on it, doctors rarely bring it up unprompted, and a lack of funding into women’s health research has only widened the gap. Social media has also stepped into that gap with misinformation and widespread women’s health content censorship.”

When to worry about vaginal discharge

According to their guide:

Yellow or green discharge could signify an STI such as chlamydia – a condition that must be treated promptly to prevent long-term health issues
Grey discharge, especially if watery or fishy, often indicates bacterial vaginosis and usually requires antibiotics
Pink or red discharge can be a result of irritation or cervical bleeding, while red outside of a period could indicate infection or in rare cases, cervical cancer

Milanova says: “Too many women are suffering in silence, and that’s not their failure; it’s the failure of a healthcare system that continuously neglects female physiology.

“Better body literacy helps women know that there’s nothing to be ashamed of, and enables them to seek medical advice sooner when needed and avoid unnecessary worry when they don’t.”

Daye’s at-home testing solutions are designed to help remove some of the barriers created by stigma and access, giving women objective health information they can take into clinical conversations with healthcare professionals to support earlier and more informed care.

Could UK Workers Ever Get Paid Period Leave?

Posted on 09/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Last year, the government announced that it would renew its Women’s Health Strategy to help improve equality and access.

“Whether it’s being passed from one specialist to another for conditions like endometriosis or PCOS… it’s clear the system is failing women, and it shouldn’t be happening,” Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said at the time.

Now, a menstrual leave petition is approaching the threshold for a parliamentary debate (100,000 signatures).

Here, we spoke to Justyna Strzeszynska, women’s health expert and founder and CEO of AI-powered period care app Joii, about what that might mean.

What are people asking to be debated?

The petition is asking calling on the government to “introduce statutory paid menstrual leave of up to three days per month for people with conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis”.

They noted this was put in place in Portugal in April of last year.

Endometriosis (believed to affect one in 10 women) can cause chronic and period-specific pain. Adenomyosis is believed to affect about as many women, and also causes sometimes debilitatingly painful periods.

What happens if the petition gets 100,000 signatures?

“Once a UK parliamentary petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it becomes eligible for debate in parliament,” Strzeszynska explained.

“This doesn’t guarantee a change in law, but it does require the government to formally respond and gives MPs the opportunity to debate the issue and consider whether further action or consultation is needed.

“Importantly, it signals that this is no longer a niche issue, but one affecting a significant number of people across the UK.”

Does the CEO think this means we’ll get period leave soon?

Though she’s pleased by the public interest in menstrual leave, Strzeszynska isn’t sure we’ll see any changes soon, even if the debate reaches parliament.

“Historically, the UK has preferred to address health needs through flexible working, sick leave and disability or long-term condition protections rather than condition-specific leave,” she told us.

But she noted that “the growing public support for this petition reflects a real shift – painful and debilitating periods are being recognised as legitimate health issues, not inconveniences.

“What’s more likely is a gradual evolution, clearer guidance for employers, better use of sick leave for menstrual health conditions and stronger protections for people with diagnosed conditions like endometriosis or adenomyosis.”

What might menstrual leave look like?

Petitioners are calling for statutory paid leave for up to three days a month for those with conditions like endometriosis and adenomyosis.

“In practice, menstrual leave in the UK is more likely to take the form of additional paid sick days, flexible working options or condition-specific accommodations, rather than a universal ‘period leave’ policy,” Strzeszynska opined.

“For example, a small number of additional paid health days per year, explicit recognition of menstrual health within workplace policies or the ability to work from home during severe symptoms.”

For menstrual leave to truly work, Strzeszynska said, employers need a degree of education on menstrual issues and trust.

“Many people don’t have predictable cycles or formal diagnoses, and others worry about stigma or being taken less seriously at work,” she said.

“When implemented thoughtfully, supportive policies can reduce presenteeism, prevent burnout and allow people to manage their health without fear of judgement, which ultimately benefits both employees and employers.”

Christmas Season Triggers That Can Make Menopause Symptoms Worse

Posted on 21/12/2025 by Boris Clair

The Edward Pola and George Wyle song says that Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year” but when you’re having hot flushes from some of the ‘best’ parts of the season, it can suddenly feel like the most overwhelming time of the year.

Adrienne Benjamin, in-house expert nutritionist explains: “At Christmas we see the perfect mix of alcohol, stress, late nights, richer food, and drastic indoor and outdoor temperature variations, which can all nudge the gut out of balance.

“When the gut is under strain, the whole body can feel more uncomfortable and reactive, including the brain and blood vessels that drive hot flushes.”

Thankfully, Benjamin has shared her tips for getting through the festive season comfortably.

How to reduce menopausal hot flushes at Christmas

Central heating and overheated homes

Gone are the days when having a warm home felt ‘cosy’. Benjamin explains: “Warm indoor air is one of the most common hot-flush triggers as it raises core temperature quickly and it can be difficult to cool down in this environment.”

Of course, it’s not reasonable to expect your loved ones to endure cold homes in December. Instead she suggests: “Try lowering the heating slightly where possible, have a window open whilst cooking, and always have a glass of water at hand to sip when a flush starts.”

Crowded shops and busy venues

Yes, Christmas shopping looks very romantic in Love Actually and YES, Christmas markets appeal to many of us but these crowded spaces can be overly warm, elevating stress levels and cortisol.

Benjamin adds: “Sudden stress itself can trigger a hot flush, and stress also impacts gut motility and microbiome balance, which may make the body more prone to sudden flush ‘waves’ in menopause.”

She advises choosing quieter times to shop, taking breaks outside or chjilling in a cafe and adds: “stepping into cooler spaces during events can help the nervous system settle without needing to leave the fun entirely.”

A lovely winter breeze will feel like BLISS.

Too many layers

While getting bundled into heavy coats and gorgeous thick scarves can be a treat, Benjamin warns: “Multiple thick layers can create a heat ‘lock-in’, especially when moving between outdoors and warm interiors.”

Instead, she says, wear breathable base layers and ‘easy off’ outer layers so you can adjust quickly rather than feeling trapped in rising heat. Yuck.

Shapewear and tight festive outfits

Gorgeous glittery dresses with sheer tights, isn’t this what Christmas parties were designed for? However, Benjamin says that tight waistbands, shapewear, and high-compression fabrics don’t just trap heat, they can compress the abdomen and worsen bloating, reflux, or gut discomfort.

You don’t have to hang up your dancing shoes just yet, though. Benjamin says: “Prioritise comfort, choosing looser silhouettes or natural fibres that don’t constrict the stomach, and allow the body to cool itself more effectively. ”

Extra caffeine in cold-weather routines

Whether you’re rushed off your feet, finding time to get coffee with friends or just warming up with more cups of tea and coffee throughout the day, Benjamin warns that caffeine can be a risk.

She says: “Warming coffee, strong tea, and seasonal hot drinks can stimulate the blood vessels to widen and increase blood flow triggering flushes, and may also increase gut sensitivity and discomfort, particularly in women who are prone to reflux or IBS-type symptoms in midlife.”

She suggests altering these drinks with herbal tea or water will help moderate stress signalling and digestive irritation.

Happy holidays!

I Developed A Condition In My Mid-40s That Made It Impossible To Poop Normally – And It Gets Even More Embarrassing

Posted on 30/10/2025 by Boris Clair

My mother wouldn’t want me to talk about this; not here, where everyone can see me. What isn’t pretty should be handled privately… or so she taught me, and her mom taught her, and so on and so forth. But the page is a place of connection. If I’m not fully present here, then what’s the point?

To put it bluntly, my organs are falling out. That’s a slight exaggeration. “Descending” is more accurate. However I frame it, it’s a disconcerting thought. My uterus, well, there’s a sign on that one that reads, “We’re done here!” But my bladder and my rectum, though performing their functions poorly, still seem necessary. I can’t have them planning their escapes.

The news of my organs descending surprised me. Like many women following childbirth, I’ve struggled with “peezing” (a word contributed by Liz Lemon from “30 Rock”) and other mild forms of stress incontinence for a long time. But since my mid-40s, those problems have intensified alongside a more troubling inability to defecate completely.

So after probing in hard-to-reach places, a urogynaecologist pronounces me prolapsed. According to a handout my doctor gave me by the American Urogynaecologic Society, pelvic organ prolapse, or POP, “occurs when the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue weaken or tear. This causes the pelvic organs to fall downward into the vagina, similar to a hernia. Women may feel or see tissue coming out of the opening of their vagina as this progresses.”

POP can happen for a variety of reasons, among them muscle and nerve damage from pregnancy and childbirth, hormonal changes related to menopause, constant straining due to constipation, repeatedly lifting heavy objects and genetic predisposition.

To investigate the possible relationship between my prolapsing organs and my constipation, my doctor suggests that I undergo what feels like a new level of humiliation called a defecography. It’s not like a colonoscopy, where you theoretically sleep through the entire thing. In this case, medical professionals watch you poop while you are alert and fully present, live and on-camera. The test reveals whether there is some anatomical reason why you can’t eliminate properly.

I wonder if it’s worth it. Maybe I should just embrace my “pooping problem,” as my youngest calls it, and limp along without additional interventions. I can just live with the prolapses for now, right? It seems like the easiest and most peaceful route sometimes — just settling. But we all want more, don’t we? We want true healing. We want to feel better. We want to be fully restored.

I remain stubbornly curious about what could be, and schedule the test. But I give myself permission to say “no” the morning of — “no” when I get there and see what awaits me, “no” when they ask me to… you get the idea. I’ve never used the “no,” but having it emboldens me to be braver than I am.

“My doctor suggests that I undergo what feels like a new level of humiliation called a defecography. It’s not like a colonoscopy, where you theoretically sleep through the entire thing. In this case, medical professionals watch you poop while you are alert and fully present, live and on-camera.”

A defecography turns out to be as pleasant as it sounds. You suck down a bunch of barium and load yourself up vaginally with barium paste. The nurse then pages the radiologist: “The defo (that’s me) is ready.” She notices I’m listening to her — What else would I be doing? — and looks a little embarrassed. She apologises quickly for referring to me as “defo,” saying it’s only to prepare the radiologist for what he’s about to do. I guess referring to me as a person is too much work.

Then the radiologist arrives, explains the process, and inserts a large amount of barium paste into my rectum via syringe. If you have other anal issues like I do…a fissure, haemorrhoids, that last part is especially unpleasant. It’s hard not to feel violated unless your radiologist is gifted with an unusual amount of finesse. Mine was not.

Next is the fun part. You sit on an elevated platform sporting a special commode. With the radiologist and nurse next to you, you defecate on camera and on command. The radiologist stares at a screen to judge how well you eliminate and gathers evidence revealing why you cannot void completely. In my case, he found that my uterus descends and pinches off part of my rectum when I bear down, so I can only partially evacuate. Hooray? Maybe. I cry all the way home.

When I see my urogynaecologist several weeks later, she’s elated: “I’m so glad that I can do something to help you!” She’s a good doctor. She explains that she’d like to insert a silicone device called a pessary up into my vagina. It’s designed to hold up my uterus and prevent it from pinching off my rectum.

The pessary looks like a mushroom with a top that secures via suction and a long stem that extends down to my vaginal opening. Once I’ve assumed the position, she requests that I ready myself and relax. That doesn’t bode well. With significant force, she installs the medieval workhorse. According to the nurses, she “places” the pessary, but what I experience feels more like a pain-inducing shove. I arrive home feeling like I’ve got a tampon protruding and a little askew. I’m supposed to function like this for 2-3 weeks.

Unfortunately, the pessary changes nothing. The pooping problem persists. My urogynaecologist explains that she could still surgically fix the prolapses, pin up or remove my uterus, in hopes that stooling would improve. She looks at me: “What do you think we should do?”

My internal response is paradoxical. One part of me screams, What!?! YOU are supposed to be the expert! Why are you asking ME!?! The other ruminates, Thank you for acknowledging that I might have some wisdom to contribute.

“I’ll have to think about it.”

The end? Not really, and I hope not. But this is where we all are a lot of time. In between. In process. Unresolved. We all wander around hurting sometimes and can’t fix it. We’re all trying to make meaning of suffering while we wait for change.

But wherever this path takes me, I’m done with pretty and private. I’m done with the societal expectation that women’s bodies should look the same regardless of the trauma they have sustained, that aging should be invisible. My body is a ragged landscape of stories that I think I’m meant to tell. I am more than pretty. I am wildly, uncomfortably, unapologetically, fearfully resilient.

And so are you.

Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.

I’m A Sex Expert — 4 Steps For Women Who Struggle To Orgasm

Posted on 11/03/2025 by Boris Clair

Getting off, the big O, la petite mort, cumming… There is a plethora of ways to describe the female orgasm and yet, many of us still aren’t quite making it to that final moment.

In fact, according to sexperts at Lovehoney, data shows that just 15% of women can orgasm during penetrative sex alone.

Additionally, 2023 research by Durex found that only 5% of women would say that they always orgasm during sex.

So, why is this?

It partially comes down to The Orgasm Gap

Of course, we know that the journey can be just as fun and enjoyable as the destination but, if we’re very honest with ourselves, not being able to orgasm can be pretty frustrating, to say the least.

The disparity between men and women having orgasms is defined as ‘the orgasm gap’.

Psychology professor Laurie Mintz wrote about this phenomenon for The Conversation and said the main reason for it “is that women are not getting the clitoral stimulation they need”.

“And cultural messages about the supremacy of intercourse feed into this. Indeed, countless films, TV shows, books and plays portray women orgasming from intercourse alone,” said Mintz.

“Popular men’s magazines also give advice on intercourse positions to bring women to orgasm. And while some of the positions do include clitoral stimulation, the message is still that intercourse is the central and most important sexual act.”

It can also be down to a health concern

If you can’t orgasm from penetrative sex or clitoral stimulation, you may have a condition called ‘Anorgasmia’.

Medical experts at Mayo Clinic explain: “Multiple factors may lead to anorgasmia. These include relationship or intimacy issues, cultural factors, physical or medical conditions, and medicines.

“Treatments can include education about sexual stimulation, sexual enhancement devices, individual or couple therapy, and medicines.”

If you are having sexual difficulties, speak to your GP or reach out to relationship experts at Relate.

Four steps you can take to reach orgasm

Annabelle Knight, sex and relationship expert at Lovehoney, says: “Achieving better orgasms for women involves a combination of understanding your body, communication, and addressing both physical and emotional factors.”

Get to know your own body better with masturbation

“Ensure that you don’t overlook self-exploration and masturbation,” Knight urges.

“Spending time exploring what feels good to you, and trying different techniques such as using fingers, sex toys, lube and varying positions can help you understand your body better.”

Knight reveals that while the data at Lovehoney shows that just 15% of women can orgasm during penetrative sex alone, that number jumps to 46% when using a sex toy.

Communicate with your partner

If you have a partner, open up to them about the problems that you’re having.

Knight advises: “Openly discussing what you both like, providing guidance during sex, and engaging in mutual exploration can help with intimacy and satisfaction from orgasm.”

That sounds pretty fun, actually.

Try to relax

Trying to coax your body into an orgasm when you’re mentally at a heightened stress level probably won’t get you very far.

Instead, Knight suggests that you try relaxing with deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, being present in the moment, and building anticipation through prolonged foreplay to heighten arousal and intensify your orgasm.

Check in on your emotional wellbeing

“Emotional and relationship factors are equally important when it comes to having a satisfying sex life,” adds the sexpert.

“Building emotional intimacy with a partner, addressing unresolved conflicts, and having a positive body image through self-love and acceptance will help transform how you feel in the bedroom.”

We’re rooting for you.

Has Your Alcohol Tolerance Changed With Age? Or Could It Actually Be Perimenopause?

Posted on 18/02/2025 by Boris Clair

“My ability to tolerate alcohol, even in small doses, dramatically declined,” Dr. Mary Claire Haver, an OB-GYN and author of “The New Menopause,” wrote in a pinned Instagram post, listing what “shocked” her about her own menopause.

Emma Bardwell, a registered nutritionist who focuses on menopause and perimenopause, said something similar on Instagram recently: “Alcohol and menopause. Not a great mix if we’re all honest, but often a crutch we use to numb the overwhelm.”

Conversations about menopause and alcohol seem to be popping up on social media more lately. But doctors say their patients have been mentioning it for years — saying things like they suddenly feel tipsy after a single drink in their 40s and 50s or that alcohol generally makes them feel lousy.

“This is not something new,” said Dr. Lauren Streicher, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Northwestern University, and host of Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information: The Menopause Podcast. “I’ve been doing this for decades, and women have often said to me, ‘Boy, I just can’t drink anymore. It makes my hot flashes worse. I’m already sleeping terribly. It makes my sleep worse.’”

While Streicher said there’s “probably a connection” between alcohol tolerance and perimenopause and menopause, it hasn’t been well studied.

Still, you might be curious about that connection if you’ve reached your 40s and noticed alcohol hits a little differently. Here’s what women’s health experts want you to know.

Is it ageing or perimenopause?

Menopause is a normal part of the aging process for women and refers to the stage when menstrual periods end, and they can no longer get pregnant, according to the National Institute on Aging. The average age of menopause is 51, but perimenopause typically starts eight to 10 years beforehand.

During perimenopause, your levels of the hormone oestrogen start to decline, and this can bring symptoms like hot flashes, low libido, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, mood changes and problems sleeping.

Some also report changes in their alcohol tolerance. But this is likely more age-related than menopause-related, said Dr. Monica Christmas, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, and director of the menopause program at the University of Chicago Medicine and associate medical director of the Menopause Society.

Both men and women lose muscle mass as they age, and the amount of fat in the body increases. Fatty tissue doesn’t retain as much water. So when you drink, the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream becomes more concentrated, Christmas said.

Your liver also doesn’t metabolise alcohol as efficiently and quickly as you get older since your levels of enzymes that break down alcohol also start to decline, she said. Women have lower levels of these enzymes to start with and tend to have less body mass than men, so they naturally process alcohol differently — especially when they get older.

Another factor is that liver function may be impacted by oestrogen, Streicher said. Theoretically, lower oestrogen levels could get in the way of metabolising alcohol, but she noted that this hasn’t been well studied.

Because of these changes, you might feel the effects of alcohol more quickly than you used to or feel hungover even when you didn’t drink much, said Dr. Madeline Dick-Biascoechea, an OB-GYN and director of the Menopause Program at the University of Maryland Medical Center. As your alcohol metabolism changes, “You will have increasing effects of alcohol per volume that you drink as you age,” she said.

How alcohol affects perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

Many women report drinking more alcohol to deal with their menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, mood shifts and sleep disruptions, research shows. However, alcohol can actually make them worse.

Alcohol can worsen many symptoms women experience with perimenopause and menopause, including anxiety, depression, lack of motivation and a loss of interest in activities.

Shifting hormones can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate temperature. Your blood vessels dilate when you drink alcohol, and this could trigger hot flashes and night sweats, Christmas said.

About half of menopausal women report difficulty sleeping. Sipping a glass of wine in the evenings might make you feel relaxed and sleepy, but it can actually disrupt your quality of sleep, Streicher said.

Many women also experience anxiety, depression, lack of motivation and a loss of interest in activities during menopause — and as a depressant, alcohol can make these mental health challenges worse, Christmas said.

“Drinking alcohol during the time when we’re already experiencing these natural changes related to hormonal fluctuation, alcohol can exacerbate them,” she said. “And so, that also may feel like an intolerance.”

Keep in mind, though, that everyone experiences perimenopause and menopause differently — some women have no symptoms, while others experience them intensely, Christmas added, and not all women notice changes in how alcohol affects them.

What to do if your alcohol tolerance seems to be changing.

Pay attention to how much you’re drinking as you reach perimenopause and menopause, Dick-Biascoechea said. Not only can it potentially worsen symptoms, it could raise your risk for other health conditions.

A 2025 report by the Office of the Surgeon General said that consuming alcohol can raise your risk for breast, colorectal, throat, mouth, voice box, oesophageal and liver cancer. Excessive alcohol intake has also been linked to dementia, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Dick-Biascoechea said women should have no more than one drink per day or seven per week. According to the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse, one standard drink equals 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

If you’re drinking more than that, she suggested cutting back, and if that’s a struggle, talk to your doctor for help. Resources are also available at FindTreatment.gov.

Even when you drink in moderation, sip more water with your beer, wine or cocktails, Christmas said. Also, make sure to consume alcohol on a full stomach.

Drinking is “not a solution for your menopause symptoms, and it’s going to have an enormous impact on your overall health,” said Streicher, who asks patients about their alcohol intake when they bring up menopause symptoms.

She added that there are safe, effective solutions for addressing perimenopause and menopause symptoms. This might include hormone therapy, treatments for vaginal dryness, sleep problems or mental health issues, and lifestyle recommendations, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Streicher recommended seeking out a menopause practitioner for help — and added that not all doctors are experienced with menopause or perimenopause. The Menopause Society offers an online tool to help you find an expert in your area.

Ultimately, menopause is a normal stage of life, Dick-Biascoechea said. “But, being normal doesn’t mean that it’s easy. It’s a lot of changes … and keeping yourself as healthy as possible will make this transition better and successful.”

3 Unexpected Ways That Menopause Impacts Your Skin

Posted on 10/10/2024 by Boris Clair

According to Menopause Support UK, there are approximately 13 million peri or post menopausal women in the UK.

Despite it being so common, and something that all women will go through eventually, there is so much we still don’t know about menopause. It’s not all hot flushes and mood swings.

In fact, according to Rebecca Elsdon, advanced skin specialist and owner of the re/skin clinic, “It’s important to shift the conversation from ‘fighting’ ageing to embracing skin health at every stage. After all, ageing is a privilege, and the focus should be on feeling confident in one’s skin, regardless of age.”

Elsdon partnered with global beauty and wellness brand Fresha, to discuss three skin issues you may not know are linked to menopause – and how to tackle them with the right skincare regime…

Sensitive to bruising and infections

Elsdon revealed that, as oestrogen levels drop, so does the skin’s ability to repair itself. Meaning that your skin may become more prone to infections and super sensitive to the environment. Suddenly, redness, irritation, and even conditions like rosacea can appear out of nowhere, with delayed wound healing also affecting the skin.

What to do: Strengthen your skin’s defences with antioxidant-rich products. Look for formulas with vitamin C and E to help your skin stand up to environmental stressors.

Visible dark spots

Hormonal shifts often make hyperpigmentation, like melasma or sunspots, more visible. These stubborn spots can linger and feel impossible to shift. However, according to Elsdon, the solution is quite simple.

What to do: Brightening ingredients like tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C can help even out your skin tone. For tougher pigmentation, professional treatments like chemical peels or laser therapy might be the answer!

Yeast overgrowth

Finally, Elsdon revealed that a drop in oestrogen can mess with your skin’s natural microbiome, leading to yeast infections, especially in areas like skin folds. It’s an issue many women face but don’t often talk about.

What to do: Keep the area clean, use breathable fabrics like cotton, and if necessary, apply an anti-fungal cream. For extra protection, probiotic skincare can help restore your skin’s balance.