When it comes to the symptoms of Menopause, some are known to all. These include night sweats, hot flashes, skin flushing, and insomnia.
However, there are also some lesser-known menopause symptoms that people may not be aware of, and one such symptom is nausea.
If you’re a woman whose age range is somewhere in the 40s or 50s and you have been feeling queasy, then chances are that it’s because of Menopause. While it’s not too common, it’s not unheard of.
Did you ever think that nausea could be one of the symptoms you would witness while going through Menopause? You probably didn’t, and neither did the women Dr. Karen Pike and her team of doctors spoke to when asking them if they were aware of nausea being a possible sign of Menopause.
Research suggests that about 5% of women experience nausea triggered by hot flashes during Menopause. Keeping this in mind, we sat down with Dr. Karen Pike to discuss how nausea is related to Menopause and how you can deal with it effectively.
Dr. Karen Pike is a medical professional who has interacted with several women in the course of her career.
After noticing the lack of information related to Menopause, she started her website named Simply Menopause to get crucial conversations started around this subject and help women around the world through this journey and phase.
Let her help you understand how nausea is related to Menopause and the steps you can take to handle it well.
Interview with Dr. Karen Pike
Hello Dr. Pike! Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence and for spreading awareness regarding the multiple aspects of Menopause.
Question: Do hormone levels have anything to do with nausea during Menopause?
Dr. Pike: Thank you so much for having me! To answer your question, yes, the decrease in hormone levels is connected to nausea during Menopause.
The estrogen and progesterone levels drop during Menopause, and these hormonal changes alone can lead to nausea among some women. In case you have ever experienced nausea before your menstrual cycle, it was probably caused by a natural drop in your estrogen levels.
Question: Is it true that hot flashes can lead to nausea among menopausal women?
Dr. Pike: Yes, they can. Hot flashes are among the most common symptoms of Menopause. They can happen at any time during the day, with waves of warmth being present in a person’s upper body, especially in the chest and head.
The skin often turns blotchy and red due to hot flashes. These can make you sweat and cause night sweats as well. Nausea can be induced due to these uncomfortable hot flashes.
Question: Is there a connection between hormone replacement therapy and nausea?
Dr. Pike: Yes, there is. Hormone replacement therapy includes lab-made progestin and estrogen. Although this treatment can help in dealing with the symptoms of early Menopause, there are also some side effects associated with it, one of which is nausea.
Question: Now that we have explored the reasons that may cause nausea during Menopause, let us get into how nausea can be brought under control while going through Menopause. What would you say is a primary step to take in this regard?
Dr. Pike: I would say one of the first things to do is change your diet. Some certain foods and beverages worsen your nausea and hot flashes. Some of the beverages and food items you may want to avoid or consume less of are spicy food, alcohol, hot food, caffeinated drinks, and hot beverages.
Nausea could often get worse if the person is on an empty stomach. When nausea is caused by hunger, I recommend having something bland to cure it, such as a banana or toast.
Other foods that can help in relieving you of your nausea are salty, peppermint candies or tea, and sour food items, such as sour candy lemon. You can also have ginger in the form of ale, tea, or even candied ginger.
Question: Can changes in lifestyle help with nausea during Menopause?
Dr. Pike: The answer to that would be yes. Nausea can often be caused due to hot flashes. While avoiding hot flashes may not be possible during Menopause, you can most certainly take some steps and implement some lifestyle changes to bring the situation under control.
Try to stop smoking, attempt to indulge in exercise every day, and manage your stress levels by engaging in peaceful and stress-relieving activities. Ensure that your room remains cool at night and dress in layers so that you can remove them when hot flashes occur.
Keep yourself hydrated, especially when a hot flash begins. Remember to carry an ice pack, a portable fan, and other cooling tools whenever you’re traveling.
Question: Are there any medications one can take to treat nausea while experiencing Menopause?
Dr. Pike: In case you visit your healthcare provider regarding experiencing nausea during Menopause, they could prescribe you medicines if making lifestyle changes remains ineffective after three months.
Hormone replacement therapy is the most common treatment available to deal with menopausal symptoms. Although it’s effective, it can also lead to nausea. It could also increase the risk of breast cancer, stroke, blood clots, and other health issues.
At times, oral contraceptives are given in low doses to manage nausea and other symptoms of Menopause.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help in alleviating hot flashes and other symptoms when prescribed in low doses. These can, however, cause nausea as a side effect. Therefore, I strongly recommend getting in touch with your doctor if you experience any side effects while taking these medications.
Conclusion
If you experience nausea while going through Menopause, don’t panic, as it’s not an unnatural occurrence. While it can be tricky to determine the cause of it, we believe that the treatments and suggestions mentioned above by Dr. Karen Pike can help you in defeating nausea.
We genuinely hope you find this interview helpful and put the suggested methods to good use to beat nausea during Menopause.
