Pain in Menopause

Pain can be described as unpleasant physical sensation caused by illness or injury. Everyone who has experienced pain knows what it is, but everyone’s pain is different. Many different factors affect a person’s experience of pain and the exact contributors of pain are also different between people.

Pain is one way our body’s protective systems keep us safe. Danger detectors in the body send information to the brain, which may or may not create pain based on all the other information available, as well as previous experiences. (1)

Chronic Pain

Persistent or chronic pain is long-lasting pain that goes on for more than three months, or past normal tissue healing time. Chronic pain is complex and each person experiences it differently. There is always a reason for chronic pain.

Chronic pain:

• can be a symptom of other disease, or it can be a stand-alone condition
• may show no evidence of its existence
• can occur anywhere in the body, or at multiple sites
• can involve several forms of pain, or just one
• can be daily, or recurrent (such as migraine). (2)

Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 Australians aged 45 and over. Compared with people without pain, people with chronic pain are more likely to:

• be female and older
• have long-term conditions
• stay longer in hospital
• report limitations to daily activities. (3)

Pain in Perimenopause

The fluctuation of oestrogen and progesterone during perimenopause and menopause can trigger pain. Types of pain that may occur include:

• Cramps and breast tenderness. Changes in periods may be accompanied by cramping that is more intense than previous times. Some women may experience increased breast tenderness before or during their period.
• Headaches and migraines. Fluctuating levels of oestrogen can cause headaches or migraines. Some women see a reduction in the number and intensity of headaches as oestrogen levels drop.
• Joint pain. Oestrogen helps to reduce inflammation. With menopause, women may find that joint pain is increased as there are fewer anti-inflammatory effects coming from oestrogen.
• With menopause, the skin becomes more elastic and has less water, which acts as a pillow for injury. Skin becomes thinner and bruises more easily.
• For women who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, menopause may bring a heightened sensitivity to pain. Symptoms of menopause such as pain, fatigue and vaginal dryness are also common in fibromyalgia.
• Pain during intercourse. Oestrogen helps keep vaginal tissues elastic. It also supports moisture production in the vagina, which helps to make sex comfortable. As estrogen levels drop, vaginal tissues get thinner. This can make intercourse painful. The vagina also becomes less lubricated, and more prone to inflammation, dryness, and tearing. Vaginal atrophy can also occur. This can cause the vagina to shrink and shorten in length. Vaginal atrophy is often accompanied by urinary tract symptoms, such as:
  • urinary leakage
  • burning during urination
  • urgent need to urinate

Changes in hormone levels may also create a reduction in sexual desire, and a lessened ability to become sexually stimulated. This can make it even harder for the vagina to become lubricated.

What can you do?

Pain, discomfort, and other symptoms of menopause can be treated different ways. Pain-reducing treatments include:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help with joint pain, or with headache.
• Ice packs can help reduce knee and lower back pain.
• Dietary supplements may help with nerve pain, joint pain or headache. Talk to our naturopaths or nutritionists for more information about supplements.

Exercise and lifestyle changes may also help to reduce pain. Keeping active helps to tone muscles, making you less susceptible to injury. You may need to find an exercise that is low impact, such a cycling or swimming.

Ensuring that you are well rested and getting enough sleep can also reduce your susceptibility to pain. If you smoke or have other habits that are not conducive to a healthy lifestyle, you may want to consider changing those habits to improve circulation, reduce stress and increase feeling of vigour.

Conclusion

Because many factors affect pain, there are many things you can do to change pain. Recognising that pain is more than a physical sensation, but is influenced by sleep, exercise, your general health, attitudes, beliefs, mood, your environment and the people around you, means that all these things can provide new and better ways for you to change your pain, moment to moment and over time.

References

1. Pain Australia, 2020, ‘What Is Pain’, viewed on 19 July 2020, https://www.painaustralia.org.au/about-pain/painaustralia-what-is-pain
2. Pain Australia, 2020, ‘Common Forms of Pain’, viewed on 19 July 2020, https://www.painaustralia.org.au/about-pain/painaustralia-common-forms-of-pain

AIHW, 2020, ‘Chronic Pain in Australia’, viewed on 19 July 2022, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-disease/chronic-pain-in-australia/summary