The relationship between diurnal cortisol secretion and climacteric-related symptoms.

•Previous studies have linked climacteric-related symptoms to cortisol secretion.•In this study, only a few associations emerged.•Vasomotor and somatic symptoms were associated with lower urinary levels of cortisol.•This finding could illustrate a chronic burden caused by the symptoms.•Women with more frequent vasomotor symptoms had also a higher cortisol awakening response (CAR).