A Commonly Overlooked Symptom of Menopause

Many women don’t realize the joint pain they experience in midlife could be due to menopause

Bobbi Dempsey,

AARP

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Published December 10, 2024

Getty Images/Science Photo Libra

When people think of menopause symptoms, hot flashes likely come to mind — maybe sleep troubles and mood changes, too. But what many women might not realize is that joint pain they experience in midlife can be a common symptom of menopause.

Some research suggests it affects more than half of women going through the transition. A 2024 survey from AARP found that 32 percent of women who report menopause symptoms experience joint or muscle pain.

Why does joint pain occur during menopause?

Menopause (and perimenopause) is a complex process that involves many parts of the body, and the impact goes way beyond disrupting our periods and affecting our moods.

“We have estrogen receptors in every organ and tissue of the body — including our muscles, bones, and joints,” says Kathleen Jordan, M.D., chief medical officer at Midi Health, a healthcare company that focuses on supporting women navigating menopause and perimenopause. “When we experience estrogen decline in menopause, our body feels it. Joint aches occur. Our bones begin to lose bone density rapidly, putting us at risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures. Our blood inflammation markers go up and we can feel the inflammation in the joints.”

This pain is most commonly felt in the small joints of the hands and feet, Jordan says, but can affect other joints, as well.

Keep in mind, it’s possible the joint pain you’re experiencing could have another cause. “As women get older, it is also important to note that chronic conditions like osteoarthritis also become more prevalent and they should speak to their doctor to rule out other common conditions,” says Erica Oberman, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist and co-director of the Comprehensive Menopause Program at UCLA Health. Joint pain can also be a result of vitamin deficiencies, infection, injuries, or vasculitis, among other things, she adds.

Treatments for menopause-related joint pain

A variety of treatment options can help you manage menopause-related joint pain. Supportive yet conservative care — including over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like acetaminophen and NSAIDs and applying cold or hot packs — can be a good starting point, Oberman says. Diet and exercise can also play a role.

During menopause, physical activity can be helpful in combating the risks of muscle loss and bone loss that are a part of aging and are then exacerbated by the hormone changes of menopause, Jordan notes. Weight-bearing exercises, workout routines with resistance (such as using resistance bands), or simply doing push-ups can all help maintain muscle tone and bone strength, she adds.

Additionally, losing excess weight can help reduce inflammation and reduce the stress on joints, which may lessen joint pain. Even a small amount can make a difference. A frequently cited study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism found that losing just one pound of body weight takes four pounds of pressure off the knees.

Hormone replacement therapy and joint pain

If OTC pain relievers and lifestyle changes aren’t doing enough to help with menopause-related joint pain, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is another possible option, one that works well for many people.

“Hormone replacement therapy helps the most,” Jordan says. “I've seen it even be transformative for some women. Replacing your estrogen can alleviate joint pain and inflammation, stop and even reverse bone loss, and help you avoid fractures. It also helps people sleep better and gives them the overall energy to stay active.”

However, HRT can have side effects and risks, and not everyone is a good candidate for this treatment, so Oberman says women should consult with their doctor to discuss their symptoms and explore the risks and possible benefits of HRT or any other treatment they may be considering.

Can supplements help with joint pain during menopause?

It may be worth a try to see if supplements can help your menopause-related joint pain, though experts say it’s unclear how beneficial they may be in this specific situation.

“There are some studies that support the effectiveness of supplements for joint pain,” Oberman says. “However, there is very little, if any, data specifically for women during peri/menopause and appropriate dosing of supplements for menopausal joint pain.”

Glucosamine and chondroitin are two of the most commonly used supplements for joint pain, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Just be sure to keep your doctor informed of anything you’re taking. Like other over-the-counter pills and potions, supplements can have side effects and can interact with other medications.

Does menopause-related joint pain go away?

Joint pain during menopause can be bothersome and may negatively impact your life — Oberman says many women cite joint pain as the most bothersome symptom of menopause — but there’s reason to be optimistic that things will get better, especially if you take a proactive approach and combine lifestyle changes with other treatments like prescription medication or natural remedies.

“Incorporating these into your regular regimen is often the best way to maintain optimal joint health,” says Jordan, noting that these treatments may also help alleviate symptoms caused by age-related osteoarthritis, changes in muscle mass, and more sedentary lifestyles that all often occur simultaneously around the same time.

Because one or more of these issues may be the combined cause of your joint pain, it may not go away completely, but these strategies can help you lessen and manage the pain — ideally to the point where you can live with it and still enjoy your favorite activities with little or no discomfort.

Since everyone experiences menopause differently and many people have a combination of symptoms to varying degrees, you and your physician should consider all of your symptoms collectively when determining a treatment plan.

“Looking at joint pain holistically is important, meaning we should take into account all else that is going on, look at other menopausal symptoms and lifestyle adjustments and challenges, and understand if it's one joint or multiple joints, which can lead you to investigate specific causes and triggers,” Jordan says.

The most important thing doctors want you to remember is that while joint pain may be common and avoidable for some people during menopause, that doesn’t mean you need to endure the pain without exploring treatment options that can help.

“What I hope the most is that women don't sit and silently suffer and, instead, present to a trained clinician that help them achieve a greater quality of life,” Jordan says.

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Bobbi Dempsey is a freelance writer who has written about a variety of topics, including health and entertainment, for aarp.org and AARP The Magazine. Her work has also appeared in Parade, The New York Times, Harper’s and other outlets.