One approach to the study of intrapopulation variation in menopausal symptoms is to simply examine whether or not a symptom has been experienced. This dichotomy has social and clinical significance because anecdotal survey responses demonstrate that women who have never experienced a hot flash believe that women who complain about hot flashes are "complainers" about other things as well. Select physicians, too, informally describe women with hot flashes as "just complaining" and subsequently focus their attention on the prevention of osteoporosis instead of the relief of symptoms in prescribing hormone replacement therapy. The purpose of the present study was to test whether or not women who report menopausal discomforts are more likely to report other discomforts (e.g., upset stomach, sore throat). In addition, the study examined the relationship between menopausal complaints and age, menopause status, smoking habits, education level, and job satisfaction. Data were drawn from a study in western Massachusetts (n = 155). Women aged 40-60 were recruited from school districts, community groups, and healthcare settings to participate in open-ended interviews, anthropometric measures, a structured survey returned by mail, and follow-up phone interviews. The results do not support the belief that hot flashes are more likely to be experienced by "complainers." Hot flashes, sweating, and headaches are not associated with more everyday complaints, but women who associate mood changes and irritability with menopause are significantly more likely to report a higher number of everyday discomforts (p < 0.01)