Menopause symptoms can take a toll on a woman’s health in unexpected ways.

The impact goes beyond hot flashes — the symptom probably most associated with the transition.

But when doctors asked thousands of women about their experience, other problems were considered to be much more severe.

The findings , published in November 2025, were “eye-opening,” says Dr. Ekta Kapoor, one of the authors, and an endocrinologist and menopause specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

“Historically, hot flashes and night sweats are thought to be the most common and the most bothersome symptom of menopause,” Kapoor tells TODAY.com.

“(But) in our survey, sleep disturbances really top the list.”

Most women begin the menopausal transition when they’re between 45 and 55 years old, accordi

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