We’ve all heard it, lived it, and now? Science is catching up.
You know those days during perimenopause or menopause when you wake up feeling puffy, achy, or just plain “off”? You look in the mirror and think, “Why do I feel inflamed when I haven’t changed a thing?” Or maybe your doctor calls and says, “Your CRP is high,” and then shrugs like it’s no big deal. Meanwhile, you’re sitting there thinking, What is happening inside my body?!
Well, friends, buckle up, because the data just dropped—and it backs you up.
A brand-new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM), March 2025 issue, confirms what we’ve been feeling and saying all along: the menopause transition significantly ramps up inflammation in the body.
Here’s the science: This study comes from the SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation) cohort and has been tracking women for 21 years. That’s not a typo. 21 years of research. You can read the full study here: PMID: 40123296.
What did the SWAN study find?
Let me give you the highlights before I dive deeper:
- Inflammation increases before, during, and after the final menstrual period (FMP)
- This is tracked by two markers: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)
- Women followed three inflammation trajectories: low, rising, and high
- Race/ethnicity and obesity influenced patterns. For example:
- Black women had higher inflammatory markers
- Chinese and Japanese women had lower inflammation
- High inflammation = increased risk of cardiometabolic disease
This isn’t just a lab phenomenon. It’s real-life, real-body stuff. It’s what I see in the clinic and what women whisper to me after events when no one else is listening.
You’re Not Imagining It
Raise your hand if you’ve ever said:
- “I feel swollen, sore, and stiff in the morning.”
- “I haven’t changed my diet or workout routine, but my CRP is climbing.”
- “No one believes me when I say I feel inflamed.”
This study proves what you’ve been experiencing: your body is changing, and those changes are linked to hormonal shifts—not just aging.
The drop in estrogen during perimenopause and menopause sets off a domino effect in your immune system. Estrogen is an anti-inflammatory hormone. So, when it declines, inflammation gets the upper hand.
This is not just about a few aches and pains. Systemic inflammation is a major risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cognitive decline. Sound familiar? Yep—all things that start creeping in around midlife.
Hormones and Inflammation: A Tangled Web
What this study shows is that menopause is not just about hot flashes and mood swings. It’s a full-body event. When your hormones shift, your immune system shifts. When your immune system shifts, your inflammation levels change.
This is why I always say menopause isn’t just about your ovaries—it’s about your entire body.
Some women glide through with low inflammation. Others see a steady rise starting one year before their FMP that continues for years. These inflammation trajectories matter because the higher your inflammation, the greater your risk for developing chronic illnesses.
And here’s the kicker: this isn’t just about lifestyle. You can be doing everything right (eating healthy, exercising, meditating, getting sleep) and still see rising inflammatory markers. This is not your fault. It’s biology.
Why Doesn’t Every Doctor Know This?
I’ll tell you why: menopause research is underfunded and under-taught.
The menopause transition is complex and multi-systemic. But medical training still treats it like a reproductive inconvenience. If it were happening to men, would we have better answers by now? You bet your progesterone cream we would!
Doctors often dismiss women’s symptoms or assume they’re due to aging, anxiety, or lifestyle. They don’t run the right labs. They don’t ask the right questions. And they certainly don’t bring up inflammation unless you bring it up first.
But you deserve better. And this study is proof that your symptoms are real, measurable, and valid.
So, What Can You Do?
Here’s what I recommend:
- Track Your Symptoms and Labs Keep a menopause symptom tracker and ask your menopause specialist to test your hs-CRP and IL-6. If they won’t? Time to find a new one. (Need help? I’ve got a Rolodex.)
- Consider Hormone Therapy (HT) For many women, hormone therapy can help rebalance the body, reduce symptoms, and potentially lower inflammation. This isn’t one-size-fits-all, but it’s worth exploring with a qualified menopause specialist.
- Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle While lifestyle isn’t everything, it does matter. Here are a few basics:
- Omega-3 rich foods
- Colorful fruits and veggies
- Low sugar and processed carbs
- Regular movement (even gentle walking)
- Sleep, sleep, sleep (yes, it deserves three mentions!)
- Advocate for Yourself Bring the study. Bring the data. Be fearless. This is your health. You have every right to ask questions and demand support.
- Spread the Word Share this blog. Talk to your friends. Help each other make sense of what’s happening.
Let’s Talk Equity
This study also highlighted racial and ethnic disparities. Black women had the highest inflammatory levels, while Chinese and Japanese women had the lowest. Obesity was a big factor, too.
We need to understand why these patterns exist. Is it genetics? Social determinants of health? Access to care? Chronic stress from systemic inequality? Probably a mix of all of it. But this is why inclusive research matters. We can’t keep treating women like a monolith.
The Bottom Line
The SWAN study gives us 21 years of receipts. Inflammation increases for many women during the menopause transition—and it’s not about aging or lifestyle alone. It’s about hormones.
This changes the narrative. Menopause is not a footnote. It’s not a phase to power through. It’s a biological shift that can alter your immune system and long-term health. The sooner we recognize that, the sooner we can support women with the care they need and deserve.
Let me say it louder for the people in the back: It’s not in your head. It’s in your bloodwork.
More research. More education. More listening. Less dismissing.
And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise? Send them this blog.
Stay fearless, fabulous, and informed!
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*EllenDolgen.com does not recommend, endorse, or make any representation about any tests, studies, practices, procedures, treatments, services, opinions, healthcare providers, physicians, or medical institutions that may be mentioned or referenced. The information, including opinions and recommendations, contained on this website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Such information is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other healthcare provider.
