Menopause Ringing in the Ears

Ringing in the ears is a symptom of menopause that is less common than most. It affects some women some of the time, but is by no means inevitable. Additionally, hearing subjective sounds (sounds with no external cause) can occur in both men and women at any age. There is, however, evidence that fluctuating levels of hormones or hormone replacement therapy can cause or worsen the problem.

Definition of Menopause Ringing in the Ears

The medical term for ringing, whooshing, buzzing or clicking sounds that have no external cause is tinnitus. Tinnitus can occur in either or both ears.

Ringing in the ears can be accompanied by symptoms that reflect the annoying nature of the complaint, such as depression, insomnia, headache and dizziness. If the ringing is especially loud or persistent, it can lead to loss of hearing.

Symptoms of Menopause Ringing in the Ears

Causes of Menopause Ringing in the Ears

Tinnitus can be caused by medications, including antidepressants and aspirin. Quinine, an ingredient in tonic water, has also been linked to the condition. The most important connection, however, is that of conventional hormone replacement therapy, which has been shown to increase both the incidence and severity of tinnitus episodes.

Scientists believe that menopausal ringing in the ears is due to water retention caused by the artificial hormones. The connection between menopause and tinnitus is not yet well understood, but tinnitus appears to be one more of the many risks associated with conventional HRT. There may also be nutritional deficiencies associated with the syndrome.

Menopause Ringing in the Ears Treatments

Stress has been shown to increase the incidence of tinnitus, so getting adequate rest and employing stress-reduction techniques such as exercise, meditation or yoga may help. You should also eat a healthy balanced diet with adequate levels of B vitamins, zinc, antioxidants, folic acid and vitamin C. White noise machines might help you cope with insomnia caused by tinnitus.

You should also avoid conventional hormone replacement therapy. Natural products such as Amberen can help support the body’s production of its own estrogen without the increased risks associated with HRT.

Risks of Menopause Ringing in the Ears

The biggest risk of tinnitus is hearing loss. This can be temporary, caused by the volume of the subjective sound drowning out other sounds, or it can be a low level of hearing loss that persists once the tinnitus goes away. Frequent or severe ringing of the ears can be very upsetting, and lead to depression and anxiety.