Can joint pain at menopause be caused by collagen deficiency, and if so, is there any way of treating this? I had lupus in my youth, and wonder if my joint pain now is related?

Oestrogen decreases collagen production and progesterone increases it, but what is most destructive is fluctuating oestrogen levels, which is obviously a key factor during the menopause. 
 
Oestrogen is also a soft tissue relaxant. As levels change throughout the month, so does ligament laxity. Ligaments then become less elastic during the menopause as oestrogen levels fall permanently. Taking a plant oestrogen can reduce some of the impact of oestrogen loss, and Devil’s Claw can help counter pain and tenderness in the meantime.

Eileen Durward