“Women who smoke generally reach menopause
earlier than non-smokers.
They are also more likely to experience early menopause”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause and Smoking Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Effect of Smoking on Menopause Age
  • Menopause and Smoking

Early MenopauseMenopause and Smoking

Is there an association between early menopause and smoking?

In Smoking’s Impact on Women’s Health: Smoking and Women’s Health – Reproductive Issues the (United States) Smokefreewomen include:

“Women who smoke are more likely than women who don’t smoke to:

  • Have more irregular or painful periods
  • Have low estrogen levels, which can lead to mood swings, fatigue, and vaginal dryness
  • Go through menopause at a younger age, and have worse symptoms…”.2

In Looking After Yourself: Smoking and Other Drugs the (Australia) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“Women who smoke generally reach menopause earlier than non-smokers. They are also more likely to experience early menopause”.3

Hot Flushes

Is there an association between menopausal hot flushes and smoking?

In Looking After Yourself: Smoking and Other Drugs the JH note:

Menopause and Smoking“Women who smoke also have more severe and frequent hot flushes and night sweats, and difficulty sleeping”.4

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and smoking?

Yes. In Health Effects: Stomach and Hormones – Lower Estrogen Levels Smokefreewomen explain:

“Smoking lowers a female’s level of estrogen. Low estrogen levels can cause dry skin, thinning hair, and memory problems. Women who smoke have a harder time getting pregnant and having a healthy baby. Smoking can also lead to early menopause, which increases your risk of developing certain diseases (like heart disease)”.5

Bigger Belly

Is there an association between a bigger belly and smoking?

Yes. In Health Effects: Stomach and Hormones – Belly Smokefreewomen explain:

“Smokers have bigger bellies and less muscle than non-smokers. They are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, even if they don’t smoke every day. Smoking also makes it harder to control diabetes once you already have it. Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and amputations”.6

Weight Gain

What if I would like to quit smoking but I am worried about putting on weight?

If you would like to quit smoking but you are worried about putting on weight, your Country may have information similar to the (United States) Cleveland Clinic’s How To Quit Smoking Without Putting on Weight.

Cancer

What is the association between cancer and smoking?

In Tobacco and Cancer the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain:

“Tobacco use can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body.

If you were asked to describe the relationship between tobacco and cancer, you might think of lung cancer. It’s true that smoking tobacco products (including cigarettes and cigars) causes almost nine of every 10 cases of lung cancer. But tobacco use can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body, including in the—

  • Bladder
  • Menopause and SmokingBlood (acute myeloid leukemia)
  • Cervix
  • Colon and rectum
  • Esophagus
  • Kidney and renal pelvis
  • Liver
  • Lungs, bronchi, and trachea
  • Mouth and throat
  • Pancreas
  • Stomach
  • Voice box (larynx)”.7

Quit Smoking Guide

Where may I find a quit smoking guide?

Your Country may have a quit smoking guide similar to Smokefreewomen’s Quit Smoking, the NHS’s Quit Smoking or Australia’s Quit website.

Quit Smoking Apps

Where may I find a quit smoking app?

Your Country may have a quit smoking app similar to Smokefreewomen’s Smokefree Apps and the NHS Quit Smoking App.

Quitline

Why can calling your Country’s Quitline be the key to your success?

In Five Reasons Why Calling A Quitline Can Be Key To Your Success the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elaborate on:

  • “You can get help to stop smoking—free, with no judgment…
  • Quit coaches help create a plan that can work for you….
  • Quit coaches can help you get quit-smoking medications…
  • You can get helpful tips on…
  • And the best reason of all to use a quitline – you’re more likely to stay quit!”8

Bottom Line

What is the bottom line about quitting smoking?

In How To Quit Smoking: Bottom Line the American Cancer Society explain:

“One of the most important things researchers have learned about quitting smoking is that the person who smokes needs to keep trying. It may take several serious attempts before a person who smokes can quit forever. Rather than looking at a slip back to smoking as a failure, consider it an opportunity to learn from experience and be better prepared to quit the next time”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause and Smoking?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause and Smoking?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Looking After Yourself: Smoking and Other Drugs. Last Updated: 19 January 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself#smoking-and-other-drugs Accessed: 25 February 2024
  2. Smoking’s Impact on Women’s Health: Smoking and Women’s Health – Reproductive Issues. Smokefreewomen https://women.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/what-women-should-know/smokings-impact-on-women Accessed: 25 February 2024
  3. Looking After Yourself: Smoking and Other Drugs. Last Updated: 19 January 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself#smoking-and-other-drugs Accessed: 25 February 2024
  4. Looking After Yourself: Smoking and Other Drugs. Last Updated: 19 January 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself#smoking-and-other-drugs Accessed: 25 February 2024
  5. Health Effects: Stomach and Hormones – Lower Estrogen Levels. Smokefreewomen https://smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/why-you-should-quit/health-effects Accessed: 25 February 2024
  6. Health Effects: Stomach and Hormones – Belly. Smokefreewomen https://smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/why-you-should-quit/health-effects Accessed: 25 February 2024
  7. Tobacco and Cancer. Last Reviewed: 27 July 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/tobacco/index.htm Accessed: 25 February 2024
  8. Five Reasons Why Calling A Quitline Can Be Key to Your Success. Last Reviewed: 12 September 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-smoking/quitline/index.html?s_cid=OSH_tips_D9756 Accessed: 25 February 2024
  9. How To Quit Smoking: Bottom Line. 02 January 2020 American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/how-to-quit-smoking.html Accessed: 25 February 2024
Topic Last Updated: 25 February 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 25 February 2024

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