Many women experience a subtle ear symptom that may signal the start of a major body change. Whilst there are some obvious signs of the major change, an expert has said that one body part could be subtly setting off major red flags.

About 13 million people in the UK are either experiencing or have already gone through menopause. Dr Amir Khan, who regularly appears on ITV daytime programmes like Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, claimed that there is "one menopause symptom hardly anyone mentions".

It affects a part of the body that few would ever think connects to the menopause, but it can make daily life a struggle. Tinnitus in the ears might mean that you are starting perimenopause or going through menopause.

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Even though it's not discussed as much as hot flashes or mood swings, research shows that about 30% of women experience new or worsening tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears) during this time of change. Dr Khan said: "When estrogen drops, it affects blood flow and tiny receptor cells inside the inner ear. These cells help you pick up sound clearly.

"So, during perimenopause, many women notice sounds feel muffled. It's harder to follow conversations, particularly in busy places. This isn't just ageing, it often tracks with hormonal fluctuations. Tinnitus, that ringing in your ear. It can be a buzzing, whooshing or ringing sound.

"Hormone changes make tinnitus more noticeable, especially at night when it's quiet or during periods of higher stress. Estrogen supports the auditory pathway and when levels fall, the nerves can become more sensitive and misfire, creating those phantom sounds."

He added: "Finally, your balance and dizziness. Now, your balance system lives in the same inner ear space. Estrogen helps regulate fluid levels, so during menopause, you might get brief spells of dizziness, sensitivity to motion or a floaty, off-balance feeling.

"This can be especially common if symptoms flare with your cycle during the perimenopause. Really common things, and this is why it's important to talk about it. These ear symptoms can really impact confidence, especially if your're already dealing with things like brain fog and poor sleep. The good news is these [ear issues] are treatable and, once you know what's causing them, there are things you can do to help."

Dr Khan suggested the first thing he would recommend to a patient is to get a hearing test, especially if things sound "muffled or one-sided". For tinnitus, he suggested things like sound therapy, putting good sleep routines in place and potentially cutting caffeine down in our diets - as this can trigger tinnitus.

For people struggling with balance and dizziness, Dr Khan claimed hydration is important and urged people to take "slow position changes" when moving. For some women, they may find that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help "stabilise symptoms".

People wanting more information about HRT can find it on the NHS website here. There are different types, side effects and alternative options available.