Is the Ringing in Your Ears Getting Worse?
The other night I was laying bed and my ears started ringing…again. I’ve been noticing this is happening more like 1-2 times per week instead of once a month. I especially notice it at night when it’s quiet. It doesn’t last long but it’s annoying. Turns out, it’s not an uncommon symptom in perimenopause.
I posted on Instagram about it and received a TON of comments and dms from women like you experiencing the SAME THING.
Ringing in the ears is called tinnitus. It can sound like ringing, a high pitched beep, shushing, loud white noise, whooshing, buzzing, or a number of other descriptive factors. There are several known causes for it such as exposure to loud noises (hello concert goers without ear protection), ear infections, chronic use of NSAIDS (over the counter pain medications like ibuprofen), age related hearing loss, viruses, and more.
It’s not entirely clear WHY women in the menopausal transition can experience a worsening or sudden onset of tinnitus, but it’s annoying. The reigning theory surrounds declining estrogens. Estradiol plays a role in in blood vessels. If estradiol drops, then circulation decreases, including to the tiny capillaries in and around the inner ear. This then affects the electrical impulses that impacts hearing. Hair cells in the inner ear are sensory organs that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can interpret. In this transition, all the changes can result in a disruption in how you interpret hearing which includes tinnitus.
<sigh>
First, you might want to get a hearing check in menopause. There are different types of hearing loss that can occur as you age. If you find yourself saying “huh?” more often or struggle to hear well in groups or with background noise compared to your younger years…get it evaluated!
Second, be aware of your blood flow which includes the flow in and around your ears! Are you a smoker? Is your blood sugar high? Both of these negatively impact blood flow into the tiny capillaries delivering blood.
Third, estradiol therapy may be beneficial here. Unfortunately, there aren’t studies on the before and after of using estradiol and women with tinnitus (that I could find). Most everything I read is extrapolating given what we know about estradiol. However, it’s also very possible that other hormones such as progesterone play a role here too.
Fourth, supplements might help but as usual, talk with your practitioner. There is some research to show that Ginkgo biloba, zinc and nitric oxide could help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus!
Lastly, protect your hearing! If you do go to concerts or are involved in activities that should require protective hearing equipment, use it! Get your ears checked for infections. Evaluate if there are triggers such as caffeine (sorry!), dairy products, your medications, or alcohol.