Psychological symptoms in perimenopause

The association between menopause and psychiatric problems has focused a number of issues: the frequency of symptoms and psychiatric disorders during the menopausal transition and the origin of depression experienced by some women during perimenopause, the relationship between psychological symptoms and hormonal changes and the use of hormonal treatment of restitution. (HRT) for menopause.

There seems to be an increase in psychiatric illnesses, including minor depression, anxiety and symptoms varied during the years immediately preceding the cessation of menstruation. However there is no increased incidence of psychiatric symptoms after menopause, but, conversely, a decrease in the rate of suicides and hospitalizations in the six months after menopause.

The case of women without psychological symptoms during menopause can be explained on the basis of one or more factors. It may be that some women are vulnerable to normal changes that occur in the reproductive hormones. In other women on low mood, irritability and decreased concentration may occur as a result of hormone-dependent physical symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, which often are associated with menopause.

Psychosocial stressors may also contribute to symptoms of depression. These factors can be found in the family role changes, loss of fertility, disease itself and others, concerns related to aging, loss of physical attractiveness and social status in the community.

In women without depressive symptoms or very mild, there is a greater sense of wellbeing when physiological doses of estrogens in women who retain their uterus will be jointly administered progesterone, to prevent the overgrowth of the endometrium. Progesterone may mitigate the effects of mood enhancers of estrogen particularly when administered in cycles.

Patients undergoing HRT recurrent symptoms begin to show mild depressed mood, may require higher doses of estrogen.

Psychological treatments or educational groups can be helpful in women with severe stressors or specific conflicts, they can give women a more positive expectation.

 

 

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