It’s well-established by now that menopause is a full body experience. You may or may not know about the fun side effects that this transition in a woman’s life brings, like hot flashes, brain fog, joint pain, vaginal dryness and the like.
But as Flow Space reports, in recent years, some interesting research has uncovered new, unexpected ways menopause impacts the body. For example, did you know that hormonal fluctuations can impact the function of your vocal chords?
Your Voice
It turns out that hormonal changes from menopause can impact your voice. One 2025 narrative review conducted by researchers at the University of South Florida’s Health Voice Center found that estrogen and progesterone loss can cause vocal fatigue, instability and hoarseness.
“Voice production is a complex physiological process requiring the precise coordination of multiple systems: respiration, phonation, articulation and resonance,” the authors wrote. “Hormonal fluctuations play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of laryngeal tissues.”
This is because the hormones provide key lubrication to keep the chords loose and moist. Loss of it makes them drier and less pliable. The authors called for more collaboration between laryngologists, ENTs and OB-GYNs to address vocal issues. Treatments like hormone therapy, voice therapy, injections and hydration can help.
Your Eyes
Menopause can impact the health of your eyes, too. A 2023 review published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology uncovered an association between lessening estrogen and an increased risk of vision changes like glaucoma. The common eye condition can progress into blindness or vision loss that can’t be reversed.
The paper suggested that hormone loss increases intraocular pressure, meaning pressure on the eye’s optic nerve, which causes glaucoma. The researchers also wrote that menopause should be considered a sex-specific risk factor for the condition.
As for treatments? Clue your OB-GYN into any vision issues you notice. The researchers also suggested that estrogen-based eye treatments could potentially be available in the future, pending future clinical research.
Your Mouth
A growing body of research has connected menopause with mouth health, which has led to experts coining a new term to describe the changes: ‘menopause mouth.’
One scoping review published in 2025 examined how menopause causes changes in the mouth. Lower levels of hormones change how the mouth functions. Thinner mouth tissues can cause pain and burning sensations, while reduced saliva production can change the mouth’s natural oral microbiome and pH. These shifts put women at higher risk of periodontal disease, tooth decay and even infections without treatment.
Dr. Daniel Croley, chief dental officer at Delta Dental of California, previously told Flow Space that women should inform their dentists about whether they’re in perimenopause or menopause so they can adjust their care accordingly.
“I need to know that to make sure I’m helping you manage your mouth as effectively as your gynecologist is helping you manage your hormones as you go through this phase of life,” he told us. “All of it helps bridge and build that connection between what’s going on in your body and what’s going on in your mouth.”
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