Menopause Psychological Symptoms

“It’s important to realise that the mental symptoms
of menopause are as real as the physical ones, and
you should not wait to seek help if you are struggling”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Psychological Symptoms Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopausal/Menopause Emotional/Mental Health/Psychological Changes/Symptoms
  • Menopause-Related Emotional/Mental Health/Psychological Changes/Symptoms
  • Perimenopausal/Perimenopause Emotional/Mental Health/Psychological Changes/Symptoms

Psychological Symptoms

What are some menopause psychological symptoms?

In Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause, content updated February 2023, the Australasian Menopause Society elaborate on:

Menopause Psychological Symptoms“Mental health symptoms related to menopause can include feeling:

  • Irritable
  • Sad
  • Anxious
  • Hopeless
  • Less able to concentrate or focus
  • Tired
  • Unmotivated”.2

In Symptoms of Menopause: Physical and Emotional Symptoms – Emotional Symptoms the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:


Menopause Psychological Symptoms
“Emotional symptoms may include:

  • Feeling irritable or frustrated
  • Feeling anxious
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Forgetfulness
  • Lowered mood
  • Mood swings
  • Feeling you are not able to cope as well as you used to”.3

In Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing the (Scottish) NHS Inform explain:

“Changes in your hormones during menopause can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. You may experience feelings of anxiety, stress or even depression. Menopausal symptoms may include:

  • Anger and irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Forgetfulness
  • Loss of self-esteem
  • Loss of confidence
  • Low mood and feelings of sadness or depression
  • Poor concentration – often described as ‘brain fog’ and/or lost words”.4

History of Depression

Is there an association between a history of depression and menopause?

On page 777 in The 2022 Hormone Therapy Statement of The North American Menopause Society: Depression, published  July 2022 and “endorsed by more than 20 well-respected international organizations”, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:

“Depressive symptoms worsen as women transition through menopause, although evidence is mixed as to whether depressive disorders are more common during the menopause transition relative to premenopause. Most women who present with depressive disorders during the menopause transition are women with a history of depression before the menopause transition, and women with a history of depression are at high risk for recurrence during the menopause transition”.5

Self-Management

What are some self-management techniques for menopause psychological symptoms?

On page two in Mental & Emotional Health: What Can You Do To Help Your Mental & Emotional Health the JH elaborate on what you can do to manage your mental and emotional health.

Antidepressants

Are antidepressants used to treat mental-health related symptoms during the menopause?

In Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing the NHS Inform elaborate on:

“Some women have been prescribed anti-depressants to help with the mental health-related symptoms during the menopause, but unless you have been diagnosed with depression there are other treatment options that are more appropriate”.6

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Is menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) used to treat menopause psychological symptoms?

In Mood and the Menopause: Management – Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT), content updated 09 February 2023, the Australasian Menopause Society explain:

“Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may help women who have symptoms of low mood related to perimenopause or menopause. However, MHT is not currently recommended as a first line treatment for major depression. MHT may be of particular benefit for mood and sleep quality in women experiencing VMS and can be considered in combination with antidepressants. Evidence from RCTs suggests oestrogen is as effective as antidepressants in perimenopausal women but is ineffective in post-menopausal women suggesting a window of opportunity for its use in the perimenopause”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with menopause psychological symptoms?

If you would like help with menopause psychological symptoms it, may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this

In Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing the NHS Inform also encourage us to seek help:

“It’s important to realise that the mental symptoms of menopause are as real as the physical ones, and you should not wait to seek help if you are struggling. Speak to your local GP practice and they can provide you with the right support and help”.8

Who is a GP?

DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Psychological Symptoms?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Psychological Symptoms?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.Menopause Psychological Symptoms

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing. Last Updated: 29 November 2022. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/later-years-around-50-years-and-over/menopause-and-post-menopause-health/menopause-and-your-mental-wellbeing/ Accessed: 22 November 2023
  2. Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. Content Updated February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 22 November 2023
  3. Symptoms of Menopause: Physical and Emotional Symptoms – Emotional Symptoms. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 22 November 2023
  4. Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing. Last Updated: 29 November 2022. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/later-years-around-50-years-and-over/menopause-and-post-menopause-health/menopause-and-your-mental-wellbeing/ Accessed: 22 November 2023
  5. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society: Depression. July 2022:77. The North American Menopause Society https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Abstract/2022/07000/The_2022_hormone_therapy_position_statement_of_The.4.aspx Accessed: 22 November 2023
  6. Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing. Last Updated: 29 November 2022. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/later-years-around-50-years-and-over/menopause-and-post-menopause-health/menopause-and-your-mental-wellbeing/ Accessed: 22 November 2023
  7. Mood and the Menopause: Management – Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT). Content Updated 09 February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/mood-and-the-menopause Accessed: 22 November 2023
  8. Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing. Last Updated: 29 November 2022. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/later-years-around-50-years-and-over/menopause-and-post-menopause-health/menopause-and-your-mental-wellbeing/ Accessed: 22 November 2023
Topic Last Updated: 06 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 November 2023

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