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Hormonal changes during the menopause can have a significant impact on joint and bone health. Many women experience new or worsening joint pain at this time, which can be confusing and sometimes dismissed as a normal part of ageing.
This page explains how menopause can affect joints, bones and arthritis, and outlines practical steps to support joint health.
Women who experience a medical or surgical menopause may be suddenly made menopausal, for example due to:
In these situations, there is a sudden drop in oestrogen levels. This can cause joint pain, which may be severe. This hormone-related joint pain is known as menopausal arthralgia. Menopausal arthralgia most commonly affects the hands and feet, although any joint can be involved.
Around half of women who are prescribed anti-oestrogen medicines for breast cancer, such as tamoxifen or letrozole, develop joint pain. For some women, this pain can be severe enough that they consider stopping treatment.
The perimenopause typically lasts for up to seven years and usually starts around the age of 44, although it can begin earlier.
During this time, female hormone levels fluctuate and joint pain may start to develop. The impact is often gradual, but symptoms can become disabling.
Around 60% of perimenopausal and menopausal women experience menopausal arthralgia, although this is often overshadowed by other menopausal symptoms and may be dismissed as a normal part of ageing.
Menopausal arthralgia can:
Osteoarthritis can affect the same joints as menopausal arthralgia, particularly the thumbs and small finger joints, and both conditions often present around the same stage of life.
Reduced oestrogen levels during the menopause are also associated with worse sleep and mood changes, both of which can contribute to increased joint pain.
This can make it challenging to tell which type of pain is which, and some women may experience both at the same time.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help many women with menopausal arthralgia and can be safely prescribed for most women using different preparations. It may take several months before benefits are felt.
For women who are unable to use HRT, for example those with breast cancer, or for those who prefer not to take HRT, menopausal arthralgia usually settles within a couple of years.
If joint pain is caused by medication, symptoms usually improve once the medication is stopped.
After the menopause, falling oestrogen levels can lead to a reduction in bone density.
Around 1 in 2 women over the age of 50 will experience a fragility fracture, which is a broken bone caused by a fall from standing height or less. Fragility fractures are not a normal part of ageing, and many can be prevented.
People with inflammatory arthritis are at increased risk of fragility fractures. Women with inflammatory arthritis, particularly those with:
should have regular bone health assessments through their GP.
Women of any age are encouraged to use self-management strategies to support joint, muscle and bone health.
Muscle strength can be improved at any age, and resistance exercise has been shown to help with pain, reduce inflammation and support a longer life.
Eating a healthy diet, supporting mental health and getting good-quality sleep can also help reduce inflammation and manage pain.
Download the Women, Hormones and Arthritis factsheet Clear, evidence-based information about how hormonal changes can affect joint pain, arthritis and bone health, with practical guidance you can read at your own pace. Download factsheet.
Podcast: Season 3, Episode 5 – Hormones and the Impact on Arthritis
In this episode, Marc is joined by Arthritis Action’s Medical Advisor and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist Dr Wendy Holden to discuss how hormones affect arthritis at different stages of life. Listen now.
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Last Reviewed: December 2025
