Singing through and beyond menopause

Dr Kathleen Cronie, Music Director (MD) of Loud & Proud, discusses potential effects of menopause on the singing voice.

Our voices are affected by hormones throughout our lives, particularly during the ‘Four P’s’ – puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause and post-menopause. Menopausal voice change is an under-discussed part of a singer’s journey which can have long-lasting effects. Many menopausal singers will experience vocal symptoms which can vary from person to person, and even from day to day. Recently, I’ve been interviewing and working with singers experiencing these.

In our sessions we discussed six common symptoms:

Swelling – Some find that their vocal folds retain fluid and swell, feeling like they need to clear their throat or that their voice feels heavy and less flexible.
Dryness – Hormonal fluctuations can mean the mucosal covering of our vocal folds sloughs off, leaving the fold less supple and the voice dry or hoarse.
Lack of power/fatigue – Singers often say they’re unable to project their voices as loudly as they used to. Others find that their voice tires quickly or have to take additional breaths before the end of long passages.
Lowering/timbre change – Some singers have difficulty accessing higher notes. For some this is permanent and for others temporary. Some also experience timbre changes, and their voice loses some of its shine and brilliance.
Unpredictability – As hormones fluctuate, voices can become unpredictable leading to unexpected squeals or rogue notes.
Tension – Compensating for vocal change can cause tension, leading to difficulty singing. Singers have also told me that anxiety, slower thinking, and brain fog have left them nervous about coming to groups, making relaxing and using their voice difficult.

Long-term or debilitating symptoms should be checked by a GP. Day-to-day however, singers noticing any vocal change might find it useful to keep a track of their symptoms, ensure they are hydrating and resting their voice regularly, and, if necessary, revisit their vocal technique with a teacher who has an understanding of menopausal voice change. In our menopausal singing group, we worked on Accent Method to combat breath support issues, used SOVT straw exercises to build vocal strength/stamina, and developed 'twang' to ease projection and give singers some choice around vocal colour.

MDs should be aware of the variability and unpredictability of menopausal vocal symptoms and offer singers flexibility. Singers may need to sing in a different section of a choir (temporarily or long-term), may take longer to warm-up, or require support and understanding if they struggle with unpredictable vocal sounds.

Our vocal apparatus contains hormone receptors and is susceptible to change during menopause. However, not all change is bad! Many singers find that working through change leaves them more attuned to and in control of their voice as they enter this new phase of life.

Visit Kathleen’s website for more information and resources and follow her on Facebook, Bluesky and X (Twitter)

You can also contact Kathleen for consultation, training or lessons at kathleencronie@hotmail.com