Menopause and Mental Health
Menopause is a transitional period for women, as it is sometimes referred to as “the change.” It’s a normal part of every aging woman's life when they reach about 50 years old (give or take five years). It occurs twelve months after a woman’s final period.
The years leading up to this is known as the menopausal transition. For some, the symptoms are negligible and it has no impact on their lives. But for others this transition can cause irregular periods, hot flashes, bladder control issues, sleep disturbances, sexual health issues, mood changes, and changes in one’s body such as weight gain and/or stiff muscles.
Menopausal transition is often referred to as "menopause," but actual menopause is not until one year after a woman’s final menstrual cycle. Thus, women should continue to use birth control for about a year after their last period if they wish not to get pregnant.
After menopause women enter into “postmenopause,” when diseases like heart disease and osteoporosis become more likely.
Due to the nature of menopause, for many years in Western culture, it was considered taboo leading to less discussion and awareness of its impact on women’s lives.
Regarding mental health, menopause has been shown in studies to increase vulnerability to depression and anxiety. In addition to the hormonal changes and negative effects on sleep, it occurs at a time in life when other stressors can be elevating the risk of mental health distress.
Caring for aging parents, saying goodbye to kids coming of age, career pressures, and personal health issues can all make menopause harder on the mind and mood.
Also if someone has prior existing issues with depression, it becomes a more likely issue with menopause.
There are a few treatments for menopause symptoms which may help with depression. The first is hormonal medications with estrogen. Despite a flawed 2002 study making hormone therapy seem falsely dangerous, the truth is out that health risks are far lower deeming it a safe treatment option.
In hormone therapy, a pill, skin patch, spray, gel, or cream is used to replace the hormones the body is failing to produce.
Another treatment option is SSRI antidepressant medication. In addition to helping with hot flashes, it can be beneficial for mental health, especially in addition to therapy.
There are various other treatments available which address different symptoms from menopause that may come up for an individual. Since everyone experiences it in their own way, each treatment plan will be different from the next.
Other things that will help with symptoms include regular exercise - especially resistance training for bone density, a healthy diet, and moderating use of caffeine and alcohol.
If you happen to be experiencing menopause and the mental health symptoms are becoming too much to handle with self-care measures, please don’t hesitate to reach out. An experienced mental health professional can help you take steps towards treatment.
For further discussion about this topic you can tune in to our podcast “The Breakdown with Dr. B” available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and other streaming sites as well as our website www.bregmanmedicalgroup.com
Bregman Medical Group has decades of experience treating mental health issues faced by families and individuals. We offer online psychiatry and therapy with treatment available right on your device at home! Simply schedule at www.bregmanmedicalgroup.com or call 305-740-3340.
References:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1105303
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/can-menopause-cause-depression
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354671
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10088347/
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-menopause