“My ability to tolerate alcohol, even in small doses, dramatically declined,” Dr. Mary Claire Haver, an OB-GYN and writer of “The New Menopause,” wrote in a pinned Instagram put up, itemizing what “shocked” her about her personal menopause.
Emma Bardwell, a registered nutritionist who focuses on menopause and perimenopause, mentioned one thing comparable on Instagram not too long ago: “Alcohol and menopause. Not a great mix if we’re all honest, but often a crutch we use to numb the overwhelm.”
Conversations about menopause and alcohol appear to be popping up on social media extra these days. However medical doctors say their sufferers have been mentioning it for years — saying issues like they immediately really feel tipsy after a single drink of their 40s and 50s or that alcohol typically makes them really feel awful.
“This is not something new,” mentioned Dr. Lauren Streicher, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern College, and host of Dr. Streicher’s Inside Data: The Menopause Podcast. “I’ve been doing this for decades, and women have often said to me, ‘Boy, I just can’t drink anymore. It makes my hot flashes worse. I’m already sleeping terribly. It makes my sleep worse.’”
Whereas Streicher mentioned there’s “probably a connection” between alcohol tolerance and perimenopause and menopause, it hasn’t been effectively studied.
Nonetheless, you may be inquisitive about that connection for those who’ve reached your 40s and observed alcohol hits a bit otherwise. Right here’s what girls’s well being consultants need you to know.
Is it ageing or perimenopause?
Menopause is a traditional a part of the ageing course of for ladies and refers back to the stage when menstrual intervals finish, and so they can now not get pregnant, in keeping with the Nationwide Institute on Growing old. The common age of menopause is 51, however perimenopause sometimes begins eight to 10 years beforehand.
Throughout perimenopause, your ranges of the hormone estrogen begin to decline, and this will convey signs like sizzling flashes, low libido, irregular intervals, vaginal dryness, temper adjustments and issues sleeping.
Some additionally report adjustments of their alcohol tolerance. However that is doubtless extra age-related than menopause-related, mentioned Dr. Monica Christmas, an affiliate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and director of the menopause program on the College of Chicago Drugs and affiliate medical director of the Menopause Society.
Each women and men lose muscle mass as they age, and the quantity of fats within the physique will increase. Fatty tissue doesn’t retain as a lot water. So once you drink, the focus of alcohol in your bloodstream turns into extra concentrated, Christmas mentioned.
Your liver additionally doesn’t metabolize alcohol as effectively and rapidly as you become older since your ranges of enzymes that break down alcohol additionally begin to decline, she mentioned. Girls have decrease ranges of those enzymes to begin with and have a tendency to have much less physique mass than males, so that they naturally course of alcohol otherwise — particularly after they become older.
One other issue is that liver perform could also be impacted by estrogen, Streicher mentioned. Theoretically, decrease estrogen ranges may get in the way in which of metabolizing alcohol, however she famous that this hasn’t been effectively studied.
Due to these adjustments, you would possibly really feel the consequences of alcohol extra rapidly than you used to or really feel hungover even once you didn’t drink a lot, mentioned Dr. Madeline Dick-Biascoechea, an OB-GYN and director of the Menopause Program on the College of Maryland Medical Middle. As your alcohol metabolism adjustments, “You will have increasing effects of alcohol per volume that you drink as you age,” she mentioned.
How alcohol impacts perimenopause and menopause signs.
Many ladies report consuming extra alcohol to take care of their menopause signs, together with sizzling flashes, temper shifts and sleep disruptions, analysis exhibits. Nonetheless, alcohol can truly make them worse.
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Shifting hormones can disrupt the physique’s capability to manage temperature. Your blood vessels dilate once you drink alcohol, and this might set off sizzling flashes and evening sweats, Christmas mentioned.
About half of menopausal girls report problem sleeping. Sipping a glass of wine within the evenings would possibly make you’re feeling relaxed and sleepy, however it may well truly disrupt your high quality of sleep, Streicher mentioned.
Many ladies additionally expertise anxiousness, melancholy, lack of motivation and a lack of curiosity in actions throughout menopause — and as a depressant, alcohol could make these psychological well being challenges worse, Christmas mentioned.
“Drinking alcohol during the time when we’re already experiencing these natural changes related to hormonal fluctuation, alcohol can exacerbate them,” she mentioned. “And so, that also may feel like an intolerance.”
Remember, although, that everybody experiences perimenopause and menopause otherwise — some girls don’t have any signs, whereas others expertise them intensely, Christmas added, and never all girls discover adjustments in how alcohol impacts them.
What to do in case your alcohol tolerance appears to be altering.
Take note of how a lot you’re consuming as you attain perimenopause and menopause, Dick-Biascoechea mentioned. Not solely can it doubtlessly worsen signs, it may elevate your threat for different well being circumstances.
A 2025 report by the Workplace of the Surgeon Normal mentioned that consuming alcohol can elevate your threat for breast, colorectal, throat, mouth, voice field, esophageal and liver most cancers. Extreme alcohol consumption has additionally been linked to dementia, osteoporosis and heart problems.
Dick-Biascoechea mentioned girls shouldn’t have any a couple of drink per day or seven per week. In keeping with the Nationwide Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse, one normal drink equals 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
In the event you’re consuming greater than that, she prompt slicing again, and if that’s a wrestle, discuss to your physician for assist. Assets are additionally obtainable at FindTreatment.gov.
Even once you drink carefully, sip extra water together with your beer, wine or cocktails, Christmas mentioned. Additionally, be certain to eat alcohol on a full abdomen.
Consuming is “not a solution for your menopause symptoms, and it’s going to have an enormous impact on your overall health,” mentioned Streicher, who asks sufferers about their alcohol consumption after they convey up menopause signs.
She added that there are protected, efficient options for addressing perimenopause and menopause signs. This would possibly embody hormone remedy, therapies for vaginal dryness, sleep issues or psychological well being points, and life-style suggestions, in keeping with the Cleveland Clinic.
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Streicher beneficial looking for out a menopause practitioner for assist — and added that not all medical doctors are skilled with menopause or perimenopause. The Menopause Society gives an on-line software that can assist you discover an skilled in your space.
Finally, menopause is a traditional stage of life, Dick-Biascoechea mentioned. “But, being normal doesn’t mean that it’s easy. It’s a lot of changes … and keeping yourself as healthy as possible will make this transition better and successful.”
