HALF OF MIDLIFE WOMEN LIVE WITH CHRONIC PAIN: HERE'S WHAT EXPERTS WANT YOU TO KNOW
If your knees ache on the stairs, your migraines have ramped up or pelvic pain has become a regular visitor, you are far from alone, because chronic pain affects about half of all women in midlife.
That is the striking estimate from a new report by the International Menopause Society, which has put a spotlight on one of the least talked about parts of the menopause transition.
The findings were highlighted by ABC News on November 8, with Australian experts saying many women are still being dismissed when they ask for help.
What the new chronic pain report found
The International Menopause Society report says women are up to 70 per cent more likely than men to experience chronic pain.
It also found that nearly three in four women experience joint or muscle pain during perimenopause.
The report focuses on three types of pain that often flare in midlife: musculoskeletal pain, migraine and pelvic pain.
Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts longer than three months or keeps coming back.
Society president Rossella Nappi, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the University of Pavia in Italy, described midlife pain as "a very important subject and highly neglected".
She said the aim of the report is to help women and health workers talk about it openly.
Australian women are juggling several kinds of pain
The Chronic Pain Australia National Pain Report 2026 surveyed more than 6,000 Australians.
It found women experience an average of 4.6 different types of chronic pain, from back and joint pain to migraine, pelvic pain and nerve pain.
Nicollette Ellis, chair of Chronic Pain Australia and a pharmacist who specialises in pain, told the ABC that women's pain must be taken seriously, because many patients feel brushed off.
She says pain is easier to manage when it is treated early, and that looking at the whole body works better than treating each type of pain separately.
Why midlife can make pain worse
Experts say there is no single reason, but several factors seem to overlap.
Fluctuating hormones, and lower levels of oestrogen and progesterone during menopause, are thought to play a part.
Some research suggests women may be more likely to experience central sensitisation, where the nervous system becomes more sensitive to pain signals.
Shifting hormones may also help explain why some women notice more migraines at this stage of life.
Lifestyle matters too, with poor sleep, less movement and a less nourishing diet all adding to the load.
Then there is life itself, because women often carry most of the caring duties for children and ageing parents, which can pile on stress.
Adelaide University pain science lecturer Jane Chalmers said why women are more vulnerable is one of the hardest questions in her field.
Practical steps that can ease chronic pain
The good news is that there is plenty you can do.
Speak to your GP first, says Sharon Vasey, a practising GP who chairs the RACGP menopause health subgroup.
Prioritise sleep, because tired bodies tend to feel pain more keenly.
Keep moving in ways that feel good, whether that is walking, swimming, stretching or a gentle yoga class.
Eat well, with plenty of plants, protein and regular meals to keep your energy steady.
Ask about allied health support such as physiotherapy, which can help with sore joints and muscles.
For some women, menopausal hormone therapy may ease certain symptoms, so it is worth discussing with your doctor.
Medication is not the only option, and a mix of approaches often works best.
When to ask for more help
Keep a simple diary of when your pain flares, how bad it is and what seems to help, as it makes appointments far more productive.
If you feel you are not being heard, it is completely reasonable to ask for a second opinion or a referral.
Monash University rheumatology professor Karen Walker-Bone also points to bigger changes, such as sharing the emotional load at home more fairly and helping women stay financially secure so they can retire when they choose.
Pain in midlife is common, but it is not something you simply have to put up with.
