Metformin and Menopause: Benefits vs. Side Effects

If you take metformin for type 2 diabetes, you may wonder if it’s safe to continue using it while transitioning to menopause. While metformin for type 2 diabetes is safe during this transition, there are some particular benefits and side effects to consider. 

This article will help you determine whether or not taking metformin while transitioning to menopause is right for you. It discusses how metformin can impact your hormones and why this matters during menopause.

Metformin and Menopause: What Research Suggests

Research suggests that metformin is safe and effective during the transition to menopause. It also benefits overall metabolic health and your body’s ability to process energy.

Breast Cancer Risk

It’s known that taking metformin for type 2 diabetes reduces breast cancer risk and improves breast cancer survival. Research published in 2018 on postmenopausal rodents suggests it may be particularly effective when taken during the menopausal transition. More research may be needed on humans,

The study authors concluded that taking metformin while transitioning to menopause, in particular, may be an effective therapy against breast tumor growth. Menopause is considered a life stage where metabolic syndrome and obesity-related breast cancer risk increase.

Does Metformin Affect Your Hormones?

Metformin impacts a person's sensitivity to insulin, a hormone essential in metabolic functioning.

Metformin also has the effect of lowering testosterone hormone levels in the blood. Lowering testosterone levels has been shown effective in helping to regulate a person's menstrual cycle in their premenopausal years.

Metformin also has been clinically tried over a period of six months in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) during premenopausal years due to its effect on different hormones in the body.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes vs. Menopause

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can make the symptoms of menopause worse, and vice-versa. Menopause symptoms caused by estrogen and progesterone level changes can make type 2 diabetes more challenging to manage.

For example, sleep problems caused by menopause symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety, and night sweats negatively impact your ability to regulate insulin levels, which is the cornerstone of diabetes management.

Other symptoms from menopause, including vaginal dryness, can add to the pain experienced by any diabetes-related vaginal nerve pain damage.

Managing Type 2 Diabetes During Menopause

Managing type 2 diabetes during menopause can be done effectively. In addition to taking metformin, you may want to consider the suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for people in menopause with type 2 diabetes. These include the following:

• More frequent blood sugar monitoring
• Eating a balanced diet, including fresh fruits and vegetables
• Staying as active as possible or trying to increase physical activity levels 
• Urinating more often to reduce vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Maintaining a healthy weight for your body type
• Checking in with your healthcare provider about medication dosages that may need to be changed during menopausal transitioning

Summary

Taking metformin for type 2 diabetes during menopause is safe. Taking metformin during this life stage is beneficial due to its impact on hormones, including testosterone and insulin. Metformin use during menopause is associated with better overall metabolic health, including reduced risk of obesity.

Common side effects include digestive upset and a metallic taste in the mouth. Symptoms of menopause and diabetes can make the other worse. Management of type 2 diabetes during menopause includes eating healthy, participating in more physical activity, and getting enough sleep.

A Word From Verywell

Managing type 2 diabetes during menopause differs from managing type 2 diabetes without menopause. The unique challenges can be frustrating and make you wonder what's left to do about feeling well again. If you're feeling this way, consider speaking with your healthcare provider about your symptoms, including physical changes, like hot flashes, and emotional symptoms, such as anxiety or depression. Help is available.