Menopause Mental Health

“You may notice that menopause
causes your mood to change.
This is due to changing hormone levels”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Mental Health Umbrella include?

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

  • Emotional Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Mental Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Psychological Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Social Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Well-Being

Definition

What is mental health?

DotS the definition of mental health may vary. The (United States) MentalHealth.gov’s definition is:

“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices”.2

Risk

Is the risk of mood changes and symptoms of depression and anxiety higher during perimenopause?

In Menopause and Mental Health, published February 2023, the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) note:

“While not a problem for everyone transitioning through menopause, the risk of mood changes and symptoms of depression and anxiety are higher during perimenopause, even in women without a history of major depression.

While the risk is higher for women in the age-related and natural menopausal transition, women might also have a higher risk of mood changes after menopause caused by surgery such as hysterectomy or if the ovaries have been removed. Depression also occurs at a higher rate in women with a lack of oestrogen caused by primary ovarian insufficiency”.3

Perimenopause and Depression

Is there an association between perimenopause and depression?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

Menopause Mental Health

“You may notice that menopause causes your mood to change. This is due to changing hormone levels. You might experience:

  • Irritability
  • Increased anger
  • Low mood
  • Depression and anxiety”.4


In Depression and the Menopause the European Menopause and Andropause Society elaborate on:

“The perimenopause is considered to be a time of increased risk for the development of depressive symptoms and major depressive episodes.

Symptoms

  • Depressed mood
  • Loss of interest and enjoyment
  • Reduced energy
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Reduced self esteem
  • Suicidal thoughts or acts”.5

Previous Clinical History

Is there an association between a previous clinical history and menopause mental health?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health the JH also note:

“Women who have a history of depression or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may be more likely to develop depression during this time”.6

Menopause Symptoms

Is there an association between menopause symptoms and anxiety and depression?

In Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause the AMS explain:

“Some of the common physical, memory and thinking symptoms related to menopause (hot flushes, night sweats, sleep and sexual disturbances, weight changes and “brain fog”) can complicate and overlap with mental health symptoms”.7

Other Factors

Is there an association between other factors and menopause mood changes?

In Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Mood and Emotional Health – Anxiety and Depression the JH note:

“Hormonal changes around the time of menopause can lead to anxiety and depression, but other factors may also cause these feelings.

If you experienced anxiety before reaching menopause, some symptoms could make your anxiety worse. For example, hot flushes could lead to an anxiety attack.

Also, symptoms such as night sweats can affect your mood and make you feel exhausted, grumpy or depressed.

At this stage of life, you may experience depression for different reasons. For example, if you are having relationship problems or feeling more stress than normal.

You might also reflect on negative past experiences during this time, leading to feelings of depression.

If you are experiencing strong emotions, anxiety or depression, see your doctor”.8

Stress

Is there an association between stress and menopause mental health?

In Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause the AMS explain:

“Another complicating factor is stress related to life circumstances. Feeling stress is common during middle age as personal and environmental changes take place. This can have a strong effect on mood in some women. Life circumstances that can impact mental health include:

  • Caring for children
  • Caring for elderly parents
  • Career changes
  • Relationship changes
  • Ageing
  • Body changes
  • Illness”.9

Menopause Attitude

Is there an association between our menopause attitude and menopause mental health?

In Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience the author elaborates on:

“The attitude with which you embark upon this transition can have a tremendous impact on your experience of it, as well as on your choice of behaviors. Many of the changes that come with menopause and aging aren’t avoidable, but how you experience menopause and the years that follow has much to do with your attitude. Far from being the end of life, you may find menopause to be a new beginning, one that can be lived richly, fully, and in good overall health. Knowing the spectrum of what’s a normal experience may help ease your concerns and help you to prepare for what’s to come”.10

Keeping Good Mental Health

How can we keep our self in good mental health?

In Our Best Mental Health Tips – Backed By Research the (United Kingdom) Mental Health Foundation elaborate on:

  • “Get closer to nature…
  • Learn to understand and manage your feelings…
  • Talk to someone you trust for support…
  • Be aware of using drugs and/or alcohol to cope with difficult feelings…
  • Try to make the most of your money and get help with debt problems…
  • Get more from your sleep…
  • Be kind and help create a better world…
  • Keep moving…
  • Eat healthy food…
  • Be curious and open minded to new experiences…
  • Plan things to look forward to…”.11

In What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness the Mentalhealth.gov explain:

“Ways to maintain positive mental health include:

  • Getting professional help if you need it
  • Connecting with others
  • Staying positive
  • Getting physically active
  • Helping others
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Developing coping skills”.12

LaughterMenopause Mental Health

Is there an association between laughter and menopause mental health?

In Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience the author explains:

“Laughter brings us closer to people, moves us into more positive mind-sets, can stimulate our immune system, enhance our learning and memory, and help us cope better with the stressors in our lives. Laughter is a great menopause help”.13

Hormone Therapy

May hormone therapy improve mood?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published June 2022, the NAMS note:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life”.14

In Menopause and Mental Health: Treatment Options for Mental Health Symptoms the AMS explain:

“While some international guidelines do not recommend MHT as first line therapy, many doctors have seen a positive effect on mood with the use of MHT in the first instance. There is evidence that oestrogen has antidepressant effects, particularly in perimenopausal women. We emphasise an individualised approach with treatment tailored to the individual patient”.15

Health Care Provider

What if I am in no mood for laughter?

If you are in no mood for laughter, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Menopause and Mental Health: Untangling physical and mental health symptoms related to menopause the AMS elaborate on:

“Speaking with your doctor about your menopausal symptoms, life circumstances and clinical history can help them to recommend the best treatment options and lifestyle and behavioural changes for your situation”.16

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Mental Health?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Mental Health?

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.

New or Updated

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  7. Caring for Your Mental Health
  8. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  9. Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Mental Health Conditions
  10. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  11. Depression [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  12. Depression In Women: 5 Things You Should Know
  13. Depression and the Menopause
  14. Diet and Mental Health
  15. Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
  16. Dr. Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
  17. Facebook Live Event: The Menopause Transition and Depression
  18. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  19. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  20. Find Help: Finding Help Is the Key To Taking Charge and Moving Forward
  21. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  22. Finding A Mental Health Professional
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  24. Fitness Tips for Menopause: Why Fitness Counts
  25. Get Help With Your Mental Wellbeing
  26. Getting Help [United Kingdom]
  27. Getting Help for Mental Health
  28. Headstogether.org.uk [Heads Together, United Kingdom]
  29. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  30. How To Look After Your Mental Health
  31. How To Look After Your Mental Health Using Exercise
  32. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  33. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Early and Premature Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Only Happens In Your 50s]
  34. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing [+ Video: Menopause Only Affects You Physically!]
  35. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  36. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
  37. Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Intersex (LGBTI), and Bodily, Gender and Sexuality Diverse People
  38. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  39. Looking After Your Mental Health
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  41. Management of Depressive Symptoms In Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: EMAS Position Statement
  42. Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Mood and Emotional Health
  43. Mastering Midlife Mood Changes with Marlene Freeman, MD
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: Prescribing Nature for Mental, Physical Health [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
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  48. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. My family tells me that I’ve become moody, and I admit that I sometimes feel blue or short-tempered. Menopause?
  49. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
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  51. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  52. Menopause Mindfulness: A Personal Toolkit for Menopause Preparedness
  53. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  54. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  55. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  56. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Mindfulness & Wellbeing During the Menopause Transition
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  66. Mentalhealthatwork.org.uk [Mental Health At Work, United Kingdom]
  67. Mhanational.org [Mental Health America]
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  69. My Mental Health: Do I Need Help?
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Anxiety At A Glance
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Depression
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Mental Health
  74. National Institute of Mental Health [United States]
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  90. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  91. Video Series-2019: Mood Changes During Perimenopause
  92. Video Series-2019: What You Need to Know About Mood During the Menopause Transition
  93. Video Series-2020: What You Need to Know About Cognition and Mood Changes
  94. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  95. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: The Menopause Blues
  96. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
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  98. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  99. Women and Mental Health

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Revised: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 22 February 2023
  2. What Is Mental Health? Last Updated: 28 February 2022. Mental Health.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
  3. Menopause and Mental Health. February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
  4. Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Revised: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 22 February 2023
  5. Depression and the Menopause. 2022. European Menopause and Andropause Society https://emas-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Depression-and-the-menopause.pdf Accessed: 22 February 2023
  6. Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Revised: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 22 February 2023
  7. Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
  8. Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Mood and Emotional Health – Anxiety and Depression. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Revised: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/managing-your-symptoms#managing-mood-and-emotional-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
  9. Menopause and Mental Health: Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
  10. Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/make-your-menopause-a-positive-experience Accessed: 22 February 2023
  11. Our Best Mental Health Tips – Backed By Research. Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
  12. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness. Last Updated: 28 February 2022. MentalHealth.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
  13. Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience: Laugh. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/make-your-menopause-a-positive-experience Accessed: 22 February 2023
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 22 February 2023
  15. Menopause and Mental Health: Treatment Options for Mental Health Symptoms. February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
  16. Menopause and Mental Health: Untangling Physical and Mental Health Symptoms Related To Menopause. February 2023. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-and-mental-health Accessed: 22 February 2023
Topic Last Updated: 22 February 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 February 2023

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