What do dizziness and tinnitus feel like in menopause?

“Dizziness” means different things to different people. Some feel lightheaded, a little woozy or as if they might faint. Others feel that the room, or they themselves, are spinning; in medicine this is called vertigo. The NHS defines vertigo as a spinning sensation strong enough to affect your balance and separates it from simple dizziness (NHS, Vertigo).

Tinnitus means hearing sound with no outside source. The NHS explains that it can sound like ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing or throbbing, can be in one or both ears, and can be constant or come and go (NHS, Tinnitus).

Both symptoms can be frightening. Feeling dizzy on the stairs, while driving or in a busy meeting can make you feel unsafe and embarrassed. That is why it matters to know when they can be expected and when you need emergency help.

Can menopause cause dizziness? What does the evidence say?

We need to be honest here: a link is reported, but the details are not clear.

The NHS says hot flashes can cause palpitations, anxiety or dizziness (NHS, Symptoms). So brief lightheadedness during or right after a hot flash may fit with menopause. We cover the heartbeat changes that can come with hot flashes in a separate article: Can menopause cause heart palpitations?

For dizziness unrelated to hot flashes, the picture is less clear. A 2026 review says the hormone changes of the menopause transition appear to affect the balance system in the inner ear (the vestibular system). Population studies report that balance problems are strikingly common in women at this stage. But according to the authors, few clinical studies have examined this link and the mechanism is not fully known (Mangia and Bittar, 2026). The authors say there is a theoretical basis for the menopause transition being a period that can “make it easier” for balance problems to appear.

Dizziness, migraine and tinnitus together

At a specialist clinic in Brazil, 93 women aged 40 to 65 with recurring dizzy spells were studied. Most spells lasted seconds or minutes and were often triggered by moving the head. Of the women, 78.5 percent had tinnitus and 59.1 percent had hot flashes. 95.7 percent reported at least one migraine-related symptom. The more intense the menopause symptoms were, the more the dizziness affected daily life (Mangia et al., 2026).

This study looked at a selected group who had already sought care for dizziness; it cannot be applied directly to the general population. But it shows that at this age, dizziness, tinnitus, headache and hot flashes often appear together. Dizziness linked to migraine is called “vestibular migraine.” We cover the link between migraine and menopause separately: Headaches and migraine in menopause.

Tinnitus is not on the NHS list of menopause symptoms (NHS, Symptoms). Its frequency in women with dizziness in the study above suggests a link, but there is not enough evidence to say menopause alone causes ringing in the ears. The NHS notes that the cause of tinnitus is not always clear and links it with these conditions (NHS, Tinnitus):

  • Hearing loss
  • Ménière’s disease (a condition affecting the fluid balance in the inner ear)
  • Diabetes, thyroid problems, multiple sclerosis
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Some medicines

Tinnitus is often more noticeable at night, when things get quiet. It can make it harder to fall asleep, pull your attention during the day and leave you feeling tense and anxious. In the same study, dizziness also affected daily life more in women who had tinnitus (Mangia et al., 2026). If the ringing is wearing you down or lowering your mood, that is reason enough to tell your doctor; you do not have to wait in the hope that “it will pass anyway.”

What else can cause dizziness besides menopause?

The NHS lists these causes of dizziness (NHS, Dizziness; NHS, Vertigo):

  • A drop in blood pressure when you stand up suddenly
  • Inner ear problems; one of the most common examples is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which comes with certain head movements
  • Inner ear inflammation (labyrinthitis), often after a cold or flu
  • Migraine
  • A side effect of a newly started medicine
  • Dehydration or heatstroke
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Low blood sugar in people with diabetes
  • Iron deficiency anemia

Anxiety and panic attacks are common at this age and can both trigger and worsen dizziness: Menopause anxiety and panic attacks. Poor sleep can also make things worse. That is why dizziness should be looked at not on its own but together with sleep, stress and other symptoms.

What you notice Could be linked to menopause Suggests another cause / see a doctor
Brief lightheadedness during a hot flash Yes Doctor if it also comes often without a hot flash
Vision going dark or lightheadedness on standing up Partly Drop in blood pressure, anemia; doctor
Spinning that lasts seconds when you turn your head Unclear Inner ear (BPPV); GP
Dizziness with headache and sensitivity to light Partly Migraine; doctor
Slurred speech, weakness in an arm, double vision No Call your local emergency number right away

What can you observe yourself?

This information helps when you see your doctor:

  • What is the dizziness like: spinning, lightheadedness, feeling as if you might faint?
  • How long does it last: seconds, minutes, hours?
  • What sets it off: moving your head, standing up, a hot flash, stress?
  • Does tinnitus, reduced hearing, headache or nausea come with it?
  • Have you started a new medicine? Are you drinking enough water?

The NHS advises lying down until the dizziness passes, then getting up slowly, drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding coffee, cigarettes and alcohol. It also says to stay away from risky activities such as driving or climbing a ladder while you feel dizzy (NHS, Dizziness).

When should you see a doctor about dizziness and tinnitus, and what should you ask?

The NHS advises seeing your GP if the dizziness does not go away or keeps coming back, or if it comes with trouble hearing or speaking, ringing in the ears, changes in vision, numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, fainting, headache or nausea (NHS, Dizziness). If tinnitus is frequent or constant, is getting worse, or affects your sleep, concentration or mood, you should also contact your GP (NHS, Tinnitus).

At the appointment you can ask:

  • Could my dizziness come from my inner ear, and do I need an ear, nose and throat (ENT) assessment?
  • Could this be dizziness linked to migraine?
  • Should my blood pressure and blood count be checked?
  • Could one of the medicines I use be causing dizziness or ringing?

This page does not recommend medicines or supplements; options are discussed with your doctor.