Menopause Psychological Symptoms

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

“Mood changes around the time of menopause may be due to changing hormone levels.

You may also experience mood changes due to different pressures at this stage of life, such as caring for children and parents.

You might experience:

  • Irritability
  • Increased anger
  • Low mood
  • Anxiety
  • Depression.

Research suggests that women are more likely to experience depression as they approach menopause.

Women who have a history of depression or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may be more likely to develop depression during this time”.3

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 (now the Menopause Society) 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”.4

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”.5

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”.6

What is RCTs?

RCTs can be an abbreviation for Randomized Controlled Trials.

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”.7

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

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  31. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing [+ Video: Menopause Only Affects You Physically!] [Other Languages and Formats]
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  53. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
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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: 07 October 2025
  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: 07 October 2025
  3. Symptoms of Menopause: Mental and Emotional Health. Last Updated: 06 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 23 April 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 07 October 2025
  4. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society: Depression. July 2022:77. The North American Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf Accessed: 07 October 2025
  5. 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: 07 October 2025
  6. 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: 07 October 2025
  7. 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: 07 October 2025
Topic Last Updated: 14 July 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 07 October 2025

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