You probably know that perimenopause and menopause can bring a variety of aches and pains. If you have new pain along the outside of your hip, it could be a condition called gluteal tendinopathy.

This tendon issue is a common cause of hip and buttock pain in women over 40. Read on to learn what causes gluteal tendinopathy and how to treat it.

Where Do You Feel Gluteal Tendinopathy Pain?

Gluteal tendons connect your gluteal muscles to the greater trochanter, the bony part on the outside of your hip. Pain is often strongest in this area, where the gluteal tendon attaches. You may also feel pain down the outside of your leg to the knee.

Some activities that may be especially painful if you have gluteal tendinopathy include:

• Walking
• Climbing stairs or walking up a hill
• Standing on one leg to get dressed
• Getting out of bed or getting up from a low chair
• Crossing your legs
• Lying on your side

What Can Gluteal Tendinopathy Be Mistaken For?

A few different conditions could be causing your hip pain. It’s important to see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis because each condition needs different treatment.

Some conditions that could be mistaken for gluteal tendinopathy include:

• Tendinitis — Unlike tendinopathy, this typically improves with rest.
• Bursitis — This condition is caused by swelling of a fluid-filled sac in your hip called the bursa.
• Arthritis — This happens when cartilage in the joints breaks down, causing joint pain and stiffness.

How Common Is Gluteal Tendinopathy?

Gluteal tendinopathy can affect men, but it’s more common in women. It’s most common in women who are in perimenopause or menopause. Around 1 in 4 women over 50 develop this condition.

A ThisIsMenopause survey found that many people going through menopause have this type of pain. “I have extremely bad pain, especially in my left hip, but it’s in both hips,” said one survey respondent.

How Is Gluteal Tendinopathy Related to Menopause?

Gluteal tendinopathy is likely to affect women in perimenopause and menopause because of hormone changes and aging.

The best and most effective treatment for gluteal tendinopathy is physical therapy.

During perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels drop. This hormone helps keep tendons healthy, so lower levels may raise the risk of tendon problems.

As we age, we tend to lose muscle and make less collagen. Collagen is a protein that helps support cartilage and tendons.

Treatment Options for Gluteal Tendinopathy

The best and most effective treatment for gluteal tendinopathy is physical therapy. After eight weeks of physical therapy exercises, 7 in 10 people have much less pain.

Without treatment, pain can go away on its own, but not usually quickly. It can take up to a year.

It’s also helpful to learn which movements to avoid to reduce strain on the gluteal tendon. Putting less pressure on the outside of your hips is an important part of pain relief and recovery.

Activities that can make gluteal tendinopathy worse include:

• Sitting in low chairs or on the ground
• Sitting with your legs crossed for a long time
• Sitting with your knees together
• Standing with one hip jutted out
• Sleeping on your side — Sleeping with a pillow between your knees may help.

Doctors may also recommend surgery or cortisone shots for some people. But over time, specific exercises and learning which movements to avoid may work better than steroid shots. There is typically no quick fix for this condition.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you have pain that’s new, getting worse, or affecting your daily life, talk to your doctor. Menopause and perimenopause symptoms are often overlooked or undertreated, but they can affect more than your reproductive system. Your doctor can help you find care that considers all of your symptoms together.