Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause
Hey, hi, hello, Bestie! Welcome home! Another day, another chat about menopause. By now, I’m sure you’ve realized it’s one of my favorite topics. Last June, authors Wright et. al. published a research review article proposing new terminology: The Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause (1). This article is open access, which means it is free for everyone to read for themselves! If you get the chance, I would highly recommend reading the article for yourself at this link. If you don’t love reading research, you’re in luck because I’m going to break down the article in a (hopefully) digestible way. I take it as a win any time we get new research about menopause because it’s a topic that really isn’t talked about enough! If you want to review some of the other chats we’ve had on menopause, you can find those here and here, where I talk about masturbation for menopause symptom relief and pelvic health books I recommend (many of which talk about menopause). Now, without further ado, let’s dive into menopause!
Menopause Basics and Stats:
It is estimated that 47 million women across the world enter menopause each year (1). Symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, brain fog, sleep disturbance, anxiety, loss of libido, vaginal dryness, and many more (1). Along with these symptoms, a majority of women also experience musculoskeletal symptoms including joint stiffness, loss of muscle mass, loss of bone density, adhesive capsulitis, and more (1). People are at a higher risk for musculoskeletal pain during perimenopause (the period of time leading up to menopause) than their premenopausal counterparts, with 71% of them experiencing musculoskeletal pain (1).
The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause:
This article introduces new terminology to describe the musculoskeletal symptoms many experience during menopause. It refers to this bundle of symptoms as The Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause (1). This terminology aligns well with other menopause terminology such as The Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, which describes genitourinary symptoms of menopause including vaginal dryness and urinary urgency, among others (1). The use of appropriate terminology surrounding menopause (and any condition for that matter) not only increases awareness of the most common symptoms associated with the condition, but can help improve care (1).
The new terminology proposed in the Wright et. al. article has the potential to shed light on some of the most common ailments associated with menopause. For years (and years and years and years), the discussion about menopause has been neglected. Only recently, has this discussion started to gain more traction, as folks around the world speak openly about their symptoms and experiences. Celebrities have shared their menopause tales with the world and many others have taken to social media to tell their own stories. The increase in open dialogue about menopause has allowed for there to be a shift in the way the world views menopause. For example, some workplaces have started offering menopause leave (2). This comes alongside studies showing that at least a quarter of women have considered quitting their jobs due to menopause-related symptoms (2). The symptoms of menopause can range from mild to severe and it is essential to have systems in place to help support menopausal and perimenopausal folks.
More on the musculoskeletal symptoms themselves:
The article expands upon a group of the main musculoskeletal symptoms many experience during perimenopause and menopause. These include inflammation, a decrease in bone mineral density (which puts menopausal people at a higher risk for osteopenia or osteoporosis), arthritis, sarcopenia, and a decrease in the proliferation of muscle stem cells (1).
Understanding the breadth of symptoms that can come along with menopause can be paramount in managing one’s symptoms. What we hear over and over again when we listen to women talk about their experiences with menopause is that they did not realize a number of the symptoms they were having were menopause-related. My hope is that this updated terminology will bring more conversation to the symptoms of menopause, especially those musculoskeletal symptoms that are often thought of as a “symptom of aging” when, in fact, they are linked with the decrease in estrogen experienced during menopause and can be treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other methods.
If you have undergone menopause, how was your experience? Which symptoms did you recognize as menopause-related right away, and which did you miss at first glance? As always, I’d love to hear about your experience.
XOXO,
Your Pelvic Bestie
References:
Wright, V. J., Schwartzman, J. D., Itinoche, R., & Wittstein, J. (2024). The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause. Climacteric, 27(5), 466–472. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2024.2380363
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240408-menopause-women-job-quits
*The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives
