Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects millions of women. Usually those with PCOS start showing early signs shortly after puberty, and the symptoms reach their peak during reproductive years. These chronic symptoms include infertility, fatigue, weight gain, headaches, excessive facial and body hair growth, head hair loss, sleep problems, mood swings, and more!
Where do these symptoms come from? The root issues of PCOS are inflammation, insulin resistance, and, of course, hormone dysregulation! Some of the hormones that are out of whack are sex hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. If you’re a Cyster and you’re hopeful for symptom relief and PCOS healing, you’ve probably wondered if menopause will bring an end to your chronic symptoms. It’s a great question!
So, today, I am dedicating this post to discussing how PCOS impacts menopause. We’ll get into all the details, so you know what to expect as you reach your 50s!
Does PCOS Cause Early Menopause?
No. PCOS doesn’t cause early menopause. In fact, Cysters often experience delayed menopause! However, some symptoms of menopause are similar to PCOS, so it can be easy to mistake the two. Some overlapping symptoms of PCOS and menopause are:
Irregular or Absent Periods: Menopause is usually marked when you have a full year of no periods. So, when a woman experiences amenorrhea with PCOS, it can be mistaken for menopause.
Hot Flashes: Hormonal imbalances in both PCOS and menopause can affect the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. This can make the body feel hot.
Mood Swings: Hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, sleeping issues, and more can cause mood swings in PCOS. Mood issues are common with menopausal hormone changes, too!
Weight Gain: Women with PCOS struggle to lose weight due to insulin resistance. With menopause, it’s because of hormone shifts! A big drop in estrogen can lead to the accumulation of abdominal fat similar to PCOS belly.
Sleep Disturbances: That drop in estrogen (as well as a dip in progesterone) can impact sleep in menopause. Similarly, the hormone imbalances affect sleep with PCOS.
Acne and Skin Problems: Low estrogen is to blame for this one, too! Drops in estrogen with menopause can lead to excess oil and reduced collagen production. PCOS causes acne due to elevated androgens levels, while other skin problems with PCOS (like skin darkening and skin tags) result from insulin resistance.
How Does PCOS Affect Menopause
The hormonal imbalances of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can affect menopause in quite a few ways. It’s a good idea for Cysters to be aware of how they may experience menopause differently before this season of life begins. Here’s what you can expect:
Cysters experience menopause later than average.
Most Cysters reach menopause later than other women. Menopause sets in for most women at around 50, but Cysters may not experience menopause for a few years after that! This is because women with PCOS have a larger ovarian reserve, which means more follicles (eggs) in the ovaries, which lengthens our reproductive lifespan. (More on this below!)
Hormones decline more gradually in perimenopause.
Women with PCOS often experience a more gradual decline in hormones during the perimenopause phase. The unpredictable hormone fluctuations caused by irregular menstrual cycles, prominent insulin resistance, and elevated levels of androgens all contribute to a slower decline in the hormones that trigger menopause.
This means people with PCOS will have a longer perimenopause phase, which is the transitional period that leads into menopause. It usually starts in a woman’s 30s or 40s as hormones start to change. Symptoms usually include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and vaginal dryness. It can be hard to spot since many of these symptoms overlap with PCOS symptoms.
Increases the risk of osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
As women transition into menopause, the risk of osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease naturally increases due to shifts in hormone levels. Estrogen plays a key role in bone health, so as it declines, bone density decreases—raising the risk of osteoporosis. At the same time, insulin resistance tends to worsen with age, making blood sugar management more challenging and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
For women with PCOS, these concerns are even greater. Many Cysters already struggle with insulin resistance and estrogen imbalances long before menopause, meaning these risks start earlier and can become more severe if left unaddressed. The good news? There are steps you can take now to support your long-term health, balance your hormones, and reduce your risk of complications down the road!
The symptoms of menopause can be challenging.
Because hormone levels in women with PCOS are already imbalanced, fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause just fuel the fire. This can increase your risk factors for long-term complications and make the symptoms of PCOS and menopause more complicated. You’re probably familiar with the symptoms of PCOS, but here are some common menopausal symptoms:
Vaginal Dryness
Decreased Libido
Hot Flashes
Night Sweats
Irregular Periods
Mood Changes
Sleep Disturbances
Increased Urinary Frequency
Memory Problems
Thinning Hair
Acne and Skin Texture Changes
The good news? Addressing your hormonal imbalances and the root causes of PCOS now can help ease both PCOS and menopause symptoms down the road. Making intentional lifestyle shifts—like following an anti-inflammatory gluten- and dairy-free diet, prioritizing slow-weighted workouts, improving sleep hygiene, and taking high-quality supplements for PCOS—can set you up for success. Taking these steps before menopause can help you feel your best, lower your risk of complications, and create a lifestyle where you can truly thrive with PCOS!
Learn more by reading my essential guide to naturally managing PCOS.
When Does Menopause Start With PCOS?
Perimenopause, the transition into menopause, starts in a woman’s late 30s or 40s. A Cyster will probably experience perimenopause later on that spectrum! Menopause itself will start at the earliest around 50, but many women with PCOS go through menopause a year or more after that.
As I mentioned earlier, women with PCOS actually have a higher number of follicles (aka eggs) in their ovarian reserve, which can extend reproductive years. This might seem surprising since PCOS is often linked to fertility struggles, but having more eggs doesn’t necessarily mean they’re maturing properly. High androgen levels (male sex hormones) can prevent eggs from fully developing, leaving many small, immature follicles. So, while Cysters may have a larger ovarian reserve, overall egg quality tends to be lower. Because of this, PCOS can sometimes delay menopause, as the body continues producing hormones for a few extra years beyond the typical timeline.
Does PCOS Go Away With Menopause?
Unfortunately, no—PCOS isn’t just a reproductive condition; it’s a metabolic one, too. While some symptoms, like high testosterone, may ease up after menopause (which can mean less acne, hair loss, or excess facial and body hair), other issues like insulin resistance and inflammation don’t just disappear on their own. In fact, they can get worse if left unmanaged, leading to symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, poor sleep, mood swings, and immune issues.
But here’s the good news: even though PCOS doesn’t go away, you can take charge of your symptoms at any stage of life! By targeting the root causes—insulin resistance, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances—you can feel your best before, during, and after menopause. Inside The Cysterhood app, we guide you through lifestyle changes designed to support your body for the long haul!
PCOS does not cause early menopause. In fact, menopause starts late for many Cysters!
If you have PCOS, approaching menopause can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be! The best thing you can do is start supporting your body now so you can step into this next chapter feeling strong, confident, and in control of your health. We’re here to help every step of the way! Stay tuned to the PCOS Weight Loss blog and A Cyster and Her Mister podcast for all the resources, expert insights, and encouragement you need. Because yes, Cyster—you can thrive with PCOS, even after menopause!
