![]() ![]() It is a symptom of menopause that is often ignored, but yes, a woman’s voice often deepens over the years due to hormonal changes. I didn’t pay much attention to the idea of one’s voice and how it changes with age until a colleague, who just turned 40, shared with me that a client that she had been talking to on the phone for months was shocked when they met in person, “Oh! I thought you were much older, and maybe a smoker.” My friend was so upset, and it got me thinking about women’s voices and how they change dramatically with menopause. Hence, voice changes should be a clear menopausal symptom. If we think about it, older women’s voices are very different than younger women’s. Small reductions of the hormones associated with menopause can create noticeable changes in the vocal cords. ![]() Your voice is very sensitive to subtle adjustments in your body. The noise you create in the larynx is then changed by the tongue, lips, and teeth to generate speech and language. Within the larynx are your vocal cords that open to allow breathing, and vibrate when you talk or sing to give you sound. The larynx is also responsible for creating the sound of your voice. It directs air into the lungs to breathe, and food into the esophagus on its way to the stomach. Your larynx is in your throat and is a very busy organ. That frequent clearing of your throat, cough, and vocal changes are because of changes in your larynx, including mucus on your vocal cords, due to hormonal imbalances. An increasing number of women between ages 40 and 60 complain about vocal problems, but few realize how their voice is related to menopause and hormones, and that they can be successfully treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A change in voice and a hoarse voice can occur before actual menopause, as part of perimenopausal syndrome. Women often talk about hot flashes, heart palpitations, and vaginal drynesswhen they discuss menopause, but you rarely hear about menopause voice changes. ![]()
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