Hot Flashes and Heat Waves: The Intersection of Climate Change, Gender, and Menopause

By Mackenzie Bosch

August 28, 2024

Increasingly prevalent across the globe, climate-related events such as rising temperatures, forest fires, droughts, and natural disasters are significantly impacting ecosystem health. These impacts include species endangerment, loss of biodiversity, and severe consequences for human health. A critical but often overlooked aspect is the gendered differences in how climate change affects health, with women facing unique challenges that frequently lead to worse outcomes.

Research on women's health and climate change has predominantly focused on early reproductive and maternal health, leaving out a key demographic—aging women, particularly those undergoing menopause. Menopause, a pivotal phase marking the natural end of a woman's reproductive years, affects various aspects of health and already represents a site of health inequity for middle-aged women and individuals with a uterus. Many women report significant health disparities during menopause, including a lack of awareness about symptoms and treatment options, as well as inadequate care and understanding from healthcare providers.

Celebrate Women's Health Through Japanese Calligraphy Art ⓒ Easy-Peasy.AI

Recent studies indicate that climate and environmental changes can exacerbate menopause symptoms and related health impacts. For instance, rising temperatures can increase the prevalence and severity of hot flashes and night sweats, affecting an estimated 79% of those in menopause. Higher temperatures may also disrupt sleep and negatively impact mental health, leading to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and cognitive issues such as "brain fog." Warmer months are already associated with poorer sleep quality, and extreme temperatures can impair cognitive performance, though further research is needed to confirm this in menopausal individuals.

Environmental pollutants can also impact menopause physiology. Studies indicate that increased exposure to pollutants (e.g., ozone, carbon monoxide), which are on the rise due to climate change, can alter ovary aging and the timing of menopause. For example, prolonged exposure to these pollutants has been associated with an earlier onset of menopause. This is concerning as early menopause is shown to have its own set of health issues, including negative impacts on cognition, mood, cardiovascular health, and a higher risk of early mortality. Additionally, menopausal women who are already vulnerable, face an increased likelihood of bone loss and cognitive decline when exposed to higher pollution levels.

Mackenzie3 cropped

Image courtesy of Fred Murphy under CC BY-ND-NC 1.0. © Pi Media

Addressing these significant health inequities exacerbated by climate change requires a comprehensive response that tackles both the gaps in menopause treatment and the broader impacts of climate change and environmental factors that worsen menopause symptoms and physiology. This entails working towards greater climate action, improving awareness and education about menopause among healthcare professionals and the general population, increasing research on women's health, and integrating climate change and human health considerations throughout the healthcare system.

Promoting social justice, eco-social health equity, and enhancing the quality of life for those experiencing menopause is not just necessary—it's imperative. Advocating for change and fostering collaboration among researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities is essential to develop innovative solutions that prioritize women's health in the context of our changing environment. It is only through coordinated efforts and decisive action that we can ensure a healthier, more equitable future for all humans and our planet.

Resources:

1. Menopause Foundation of Canada. The Silence and the Stigma: Menopause in Canada [Internet]. Canada: Menopause Foundation of Canada; 2022. Available from https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/menopause-in-canada-report/

2. Cucinella L, Tiranini L, Nappi RE. Impact of climate and environmental change on the menopause. Maturitas [Internet]. 2023 Dec 1;178:107825. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107825

3. Smith JN, Van Daalen KR, Venkatraman R. Climate change and its potential impact on menopausal hot flashes: a commentary. Menopause [Internet]. 2020 Feb 24;27(7):816–7. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000001521

4. Faubion SS, Kuhle CL, Shuster LT, Rocca WA. Long-term health consequences of premature or early menopause and considerations for management. Climacteric [Internet]. 2015 Apr 7;18(4):483–91. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2015.1020484

5. Osman-Elasha B. Women...In the shadow of climate change | United Nations [Internet]. UN Chronicle, United Nations. 2009 [cited 2024 May 31]. Available from: https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/womenin-shadow-climate-change

6. McCarthy J. Understanding why climate change impacts women more than men [Internet]. Global Citizen. 2020 [cited 2024 Jun 14]. Available from: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/how-climate-change-affects-women/