Menopause and Depression - is their a Link?

Women who are close to entering the stage of life known as menopause do have a higher risk of having to deal with depression. Their have been two studies concerning menopause and depression that have recently been conducted that strongly suggest that hormonal changes are part of the cause. The studies focused on women who were in the transition time frame just before menopause (perimenopause).

None of the women who participated in the program had a history of depression problems but the possibility of these women having depression symptoms during the perimenopause years significantly increased. Researchers who conducted the menopause and depression studies have concluded that during the perimenopause years, treatments should be utilized to help women deal with menopausal depression as well as other menopausal symptoms.

Some experts have suggested that depression during menopause has been considered just to be an experience that women have to deal with during this time in their lives and is not always taken as seriously as it should be. Depression can be a serious problem and can have a significant negative affect on a person's life. One study regarding menopause and depression contained 460 women who lived in the Boston area and the women were between thirty-six and forty-five years of age and the study had a duration of six years.

Increased Chance for Depression

All the women who participated in the study were in the premenopausal stage of life and therefore they still received their regular periods. Major depression had never been a problem for any of the women in the menopause and depression study. However, the women who began the premenopausal stage of life during the study had a two times greater chance of having to deal with depression when compared to the other women. Also, those women who were premenopausal and also experienced hot flashes had an even greater risk of becoming depressed.

Premenopausal Study

Regarding the second study concerning menopause and depression the study included two hundred and thirty-one women that were between thirty-five and forty-seven in age. The women were premenopausal and did not have problems with depression in the past. During the eight years that the women participated in the menopause and depression study blood samples were taken as well as standardized tests to detect depression problems.

The researchers concluded that the possibility of women experiencing depression during the perimenopause stage increased by about four times. Also, clinical depression was about two and an half times more likely to occur during the perimenopause stage of life. Some researchers have strongly suggested that hormonal changes are probably an important factor regarding menopause and depression.

For women that experience depression during the transition stage to menopause might have their depression symptoms reduced with hormone therapy and in some cases antidepressants are useful. If you have been experiencing depression during the transition to menopause or during menopause you should consult with your doctor.