Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Nausea?Is Nausea a Symptom of Menopause?TreatmentWhen to See Your Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Nausea?
Is Nausea a Symptom of Menopause?
Treatment
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Nauseais a symptom ofmenopause. If you are a female in your 40s or 50s and feeling queasy, menopause orperimenopause(the transitional stage into menopause) is a possible, but uncommon, cause.
Menopause-related nausea occurs because of changing hormone levels. Sometimes nausea may accompany hot flashes. It can also be a side effect of medications, includinghormone replacement therapy(HRT) used to treat menopausal symptoms.
This article explains how menopause can cause nausea and the treatments to help prevent symptoms. It discusses some factors that can lead to nausea, as well as information about how a healthcare provider can help.
MixMedia / Getty Images
Nausea occurs as a response to signals sent from the brain and nervous system to the digestive tract.These signals target multiple organs in the body.
Many conditions, some of them serious, can lead to nausea symptoms. They include:
Nausea can be a symptom of menopause and may occur along with hot flashes. Up to 75% of people experiencing menopause report a pattern of menopause symptoms that include hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, and insomnia (trouble sleeping).
The causes of nausea during menopause include:
In the United States, the average age at menopause is 51 years but it can occur earlier or later.Some people will experience nausea and other menopause symptoms earlier because of another medical condition, such as chemotherapy treatment for cancer or ahysterectomy(surgery to remove the uterus).
When Does Early Menopause Happen?
Decreased Hormone Levels
By the time a woman approaches menopausal age, those hormones begin to drop.This signals the beginning of menopause. During that time, the decrease in hormone levels can lead to nausea in some people.
Hot Flashes
Not all people will develop hot flash–induced nausea, but research has found that as many as 5% will experience this particular side effect.
Are Hot Flashes Dangerous?Hot flashes, as a symptom of menopause, are not dangerous. Nor is menopause itself. That being said, some research has found that people who experience more severe hot flashes may be at an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular disease in the future.
Are Hot Flashes Dangerous?
Hot flashes, as a symptom of menopause, are not dangerous. Nor is menopause itself. That being said, some research has found that people who experience more severe hot flashes may be at an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular disease in the future.
How Does Taking Birth Control Pills Affect Menopause?
Menopause Medications
Medications used to treat the symptoms of menopause can sometimes cause nausea. Examples include hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and some antidepressants.
HRT is a type of therapy used to reintroduce synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone into the body to help combat symptoms of menopause. One of the side effects of HRT is nausea. This is especially true with estrogen therapy.
Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat mood changes that come with menopause. Nausea can be a side effect of antidepressants.
In December 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued aboxed warningfor Veozah. Veozah may lead to serious liver injury in some individuals. Symptoms of liver damage include fatigue, unusual itching, nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking Veozah and consult your healthcare provider immediately.
Nausea is among the most common side effects of medications, associated with more than 50% of a wide range of drugs.If you take certain drugs for other health conditions or experience nausea after starting a new medication, be sure to tell your healthcare provider about it. It may not be related to your menopause or its treatment.
Treatments and Management of Nausea
There are various treatments available for nausea associated with menopause. Treatment often will depend on the symptoms that you’ve experienced.
Medications
Antiemeticmedications also are used to treat nausea. Over-the-counter treatments include:
Prescription medications used to treat severe nausea include:
Nausea, Menopause, and DepressionIn people experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders associated with menopause, a class of antidepressants known asselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) may be prescribed. These include Paxil (paroxetine) and Prozac (fluoxetine). SSRIs also alleviate sleep disturbances as well as symptoms of anxiety.
Nausea, Menopause, and Depression
In people experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders associated with menopause, a class of antidepressants known asselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) may be prescribed. These include Paxil (paroxetine) and Prozac (fluoxetine). SSRIs also alleviate sleep disturbances as well as symptoms of anxiety.
Dietary Changes
Certain foods and beverages may make nausea worse. Common nausea triggers include:
Menopause Diet: Foods to Support Changing Hormone Levels
How Can You Increase Your Hormone Levels Naturally?To increase estrogen naturally, you can introduce certain foods into your diet such as soybeans and soybean-based products, flaxseeds, and sesame seeds.Certain nutrient supplements, including B vitamins, vitamin D, and boron, may also be effective at increasing estrogen.
How Can You Increase Your Hormone Levels Naturally?
To increase estrogen naturally, you can introduce certain foods into your diet such as soybeans and soybean-based products, flaxseeds, and sesame seeds.Certain nutrient supplements, including B vitamins, vitamin D, and boron, may also be effective at increasing estrogen.
30 Foods to Eat When You’re Nauseous but Hungry
Manage Hot Flashes
How Menopause Is Treated
While menopause-induced nausea isn’t dangerous, it can significantly affect quality of life.
In some cases, treating nausea at home can work. But if it interferes with your ability to participate in your day-to-day life, you should see your healthcare provider. They will work with you to determine the best course of action to alleviate your nausea and other symptoms of menopause as well.
When Nausea Needs Immediate Medical Care
For nausea lasting for more than one week unrelated to the above conditions, you should consult a healthcare provider. They may orderblood teststo measure hormone levels, or additional tests to rule out other causes such as athyroid disorderor, in younger people, apregnancy.
Summary
While not everyone will experience nausea because of menopause, some will. Fortunately, it can be managed effectively with either over-the-counter or natural remedies.
Lifestyle changes also can help to reduce nausea symptoms during menopause. Talk to your healthcare provider about steps you can take, and be sure to contact them if your nausea persists or interferes with your daily life.
A Word From Verywell
Menopause can be an uncomfortable and difficult process, especially if you have nausea as a symptom. But keep in mind that your nausea may be due to another condition, some of them potentially life-threatening. It’s important to make sure you have an accurate diagnosis for your nausea symptoms.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe onset of menopause can vary. People are most likely to begin menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. However, it can start as early as age 40.Learn MoreDiagnosing Menopause: 5 Signs Your Body Is Entering the TransitionIn addition to nausea, other symptoms of menopause include:Hot flashesNight sweatsVaginal drynessand sexual dysfunctionPainful intercourseThinning and inflammation of the vaginal wallsWeakened pelvic musclesLower sex driveDifficulty sleeping (insomnia)FatigueJoint painDepressionand other mood changesAnxietyChanges in memory retentionPoor concentrationLearn MoreSide Effects and Symptoms of MenopausePerimenopause is the transitional period prior to the onset of menopause. During perimenopause, yourmenstrual cyclebegins changing, and physical and emotional symptoms arise. Perimenopause can last anywhere from two to 10 years.Learn MoreHow Age and Other Factors Affect PerimenopauseThe menopause timeline will vary depending on the person and their lifestyle factors. Roughly speaking, the transitional period typically lasts seven years. In some cases, it can go on for as long as 14 years.Learn MoreWhat Factors Influence How Long Menopause Lasts?
The onset of menopause can vary. People are most likely to begin menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. However, it can start as early as age 40.Learn MoreDiagnosing Menopause: 5 Signs Your Body Is Entering the Transition
The onset of menopause can vary. People are most likely to begin menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. However, it can start as early as age 40.
Learn MoreDiagnosing Menopause: 5 Signs Your Body Is Entering the Transition
In addition to nausea, other symptoms of menopause include:Hot flashesNight sweatsVaginal drynessand sexual dysfunctionPainful intercourseThinning and inflammation of the vaginal wallsWeakened pelvic musclesLower sex driveDifficulty sleeping (insomnia)FatigueJoint painDepressionand other mood changesAnxietyChanges in memory retentionPoor concentrationLearn MoreSide Effects and Symptoms of Menopause
In addition to nausea, other symptoms of menopause include:Hot flashesNight sweatsVaginal drynessand sexual dysfunctionPainful intercourseThinning and inflammation of the vaginal wallsWeakened pelvic musclesLower sex driveDifficulty sleeping (insomnia)FatigueJoint painDepressionand other mood changesAnxietyChanges in memory retentionPoor concentration
In addition to nausea, other symptoms of menopause include:
Learn MoreSide Effects and Symptoms of Menopause
Perimenopause is the transitional period prior to the onset of menopause. During perimenopause, yourmenstrual cyclebegins changing, and physical and emotional symptoms arise. Perimenopause can last anywhere from two to 10 years.Learn MoreHow Age and Other Factors Affect Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the transitional period prior to the onset of menopause. During perimenopause, yourmenstrual cyclebegins changing, and physical and emotional symptoms arise. Perimenopause can last anywhere from two to 10 years.
Learn MoreHow Age and Other Factors Affect Perimenopause
The menopause timeline will vary depending on the person and their lifestyle factors. Roughly speaking, the transitional period typically lasts seven years. In some cases, it can go on for as long as 14 years.Learn MoreWhat Factors Influence How Long Menopause Lasts?
The menopause timeline will vary depending on the person and their lifestyle factors. Roughly speaking, the transitional period typically lasts seven years. In some cases, it can go on for as long as 14 years.
Learn MoreWhat Factors Influence How Long Menopause Lasts?
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cagnacci A, Venier M.The controversial history of hormone replacement therapy.Medicina. 2019;55(9):602. doi:10.3390/medicina55090602Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913Harvard Health Publishing.Nausea.Sharman Moser S, Chodick G, Bar-On S, Shalev V.Healthcare utilization and prevalence of symptoms in women with menopause: A real-world analysis.Int J Womens Health. 2020 Jun 3;12:445-454. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S246113.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Menopause.Shifren JL, Gass MLS.The North American menopause society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women.Menopause. 2014;21(10):1038-1062. doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000319Dalal PK, Agarwal M.Postmenopausal syndrome.Indian J Psychiatry.2015;57(6):222. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.161483Zhang Z, DiVittorio JR, Joseph AM, Correa SM.The effects of estrogens on neural circuits that control temperature.Endocrinology. 2021;162(8):bqab087. doi:10.1210/endocr/bqab087Fisher WI, Thurston RC.Measuring hot flash phenomenonology using ambulatory prospective digital diaries.Menopause.2016;23(11):1222-1227. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000685Zhu D, Chung HF, Dobson AJ, et al.Vasomotor menopausal symptoms and risk of cardiovascular disease: A pooled analysis of six prospective studies.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2020;223(6):898.e1-898.e16. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.06.039Fait T.Menopause hormone therapy: Latest developments and clinical practice.Drugs Context.2019;8:1-9. doi:10.7573/dic.212551U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Veozah label.Food and Drug Administration.Veozah label.Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol.2015;126(4):859-876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058Santoro N, Epperson CN, Mathews SB.Menopausal symptoms and their management.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am.2015;44(3):497-515. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.001Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Ginger.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Peppermint.Desmawati D, Sulastri D.Phytoestrogens and their health effect.Open Access Maced J Med Sci.2019;14;7(3):495-499. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.044National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Hemorrhagic stroke.National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Perimenopause.
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cagnacci A, Venier M.The controversial history of hormone replacement therapy.Medicina. 2019;55(9):602. doi:10.3390/medicina55090602Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913Harvard Health Publishing.Nausea.Sharman Moser S, Chodick G, Bar-On S, Shalev V.Healthcare utilization and prevalence of symptoms in women with menopause: A real-world analysis.Int J Womens Health. 2020 Jun 3;12:445-454. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S246113.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Menopause.Shifren JL, Gass MLS.The North American menopause society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women.Menopause. 2014;21(10):1038-1062. doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000319Dalal PK, Agarwal M.Postmenopausal syndrome.Indian J Psychiatry.2015;57(6):222. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.161483Zhang Z, DiVittorio JR, Joseph AM, Correa SM.The effects of estrogens on neural circuits that control temperature.Endocrinology. 2021;162(8):bqab087. doi:10.1210/endocr/bqab087Fisher WI, Thurston RC.Measuring hot flash phenomenonology using ambulatory prospective digital diaries.Menopause.2016;23(11):1222-1227. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000685Zhu D, Chung HF, Dobson AJ, et al.Vasomotor menopausal symptoms and risk of cardiovascular disease: A pooled analysis of six prospective studies.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2020;223(6):898.e1-898.e16. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.06.039Fait T.Menopause hormone therapy: Latest developments and clinical practice.Drugs Context.2019;8:1-9. doi:10.7573/dic.212551U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Veozah label.Food and Drug Administration.Veozah label.Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol.2015;126(4):859-876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058Santoro N, Epperson CN, Mathews SB.Menopausal symptoms and their management.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am.2015;44(3):497-515. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.001Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Ginger.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Peppermint.Desmawati D, Sulastri D.Phytoestrogens and their health effect.Open Access Maced J Med Sci.2019;14;7(3):495-499. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.044National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Hemorrhagic stroke.National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Perimenopause.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cagnacci A, Venier M.The controversial history of hormone replacement therapy.Medicina. 2019;55(9):602. doi:10.3390/medicina55090602Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913Harvard Health Publishing.Nausea.Sharman Moser S, Chodick G, Bar-On S, Shalev V.Healthcare utilization and prevalence of symptoms in women with menopause: A real-world analysis.Int J Womens Health. 2020 Jun 3;12:445-454. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S246113.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Menopause.Shifren JL, Gass MLS.The North American menopause society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women.Menopause. 2014;21(10):1038-1062. doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000319Dalal PK, Agarwal M.Postmenopausal syndrome.Indian J Psychiatry.2015;57(6):222. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.161483Zhang Z, DiVittorio JR, Joseph AM, Correa SM.The effects of estrogens on neural circuits that control temperature.Endocrinology. 2021;162(8):bqab087. doi:10.1210/endocr/bqab087Fisher WI, Thurston RC.Measuring hot flash phenomenonology using ambulatory prospective digital diaries.Menopause.2016;23(11):1222-1227. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000685Zhu D, Chung HF, Dobson AJ, et al.Vasomotor menopausal symptoms and risk of cardiovascular disease: A pooled analysis of six prospective studies.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2020;223(6):898.e1-898.e16. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.06.039Fait T.Menopause hormone therapy: Latest developments and clinical practice.Drugs Context.2019;8:1-9. doi:10.7573/dic.212551U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Veozah label.Food and Drug Administration.Veozah label.Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol.2015;126(4):859-876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058Santoro N, Epperson CN, Mathews SB.Menopausal symptoms and their management.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am.2015;44(3):497-515. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.001Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Ginger.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Peppermint.Desmawati D, Sulastri D.Phytoestrogens and their health effect.Open Access Maced J Med Sci.2019;14;7(3):495-499. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.044National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Hemorrhagic stroke.National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Perimenopause.
Cagnacci A, Venier M.The controversial history of hormone replacement therapy.Medicina. 2019;55(9):602. doi:10.3390/medicina55090602
Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913
Harvard Health Publishing.Nausea.
Sharman Moser S, Chodick G, Bar-On S, Shalev V.Healthcare utilization and prevalence of symptoms in women with menopause: A real-world analysis.Int J Womens Health. 2020 Jun 3;12:445-454. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S246113.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Menopause.
Shifren JL, Gass MLS.The North American menopause society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women.Menopause. 2014;21(10):1038-1062. doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000319
Dalal PK, Agarwal M.Postmenopausal syndrome.Indian J Psychiatry.2015;57(6):222. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.161483
Zhang Z, DiVittorio JR, Joseph AM, Correa SM.The effects of estrogens on neural circuits that control temperature.Endocrinology. 2021;162(8):bqab087. doi:10.1210/endocr/bqab087
Fisher WI, Thurston RC.Measuring hot flash phenomenonology using ambulatory prospective digital diaries.Menopause.2016;23(11):1222-1227. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000685
Zhu D, Chung HF, Dobson AJ, et al.Vasomotor menopausal symptoms and risk of cardiovascular disease: A pooled analysis of six prospective studies.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2020;223(6):898.e1-898.e16. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.06.039
Fait T.Menopause hormone therapy: Latest developments and clinical practice.Drugs Context.2019;8:1-9. doi:10.7573/dic.212551
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Veozah label.
Food and Drug Administration.Veozah label.
Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol.2015;126(4):859-876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058
Santoro N, Epperson CN, Mathews SB.Menopausal symptoms and their management.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am.2015;44(3):497-515. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.001
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Ginger.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Peppermint.
Desmawati D, Sulastri D.Phytoestrogens and their health effect.Open Access Maced J Med Sci.2019;14;7(3):495-499. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.044
National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Hemorrhagic stroke.
National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Perimenopause.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
