Menopause is a time of serious hormonal changes that affects every women. It causes symptoms of both physical and psychological nature, and the former include hot flashes, bleeding disorders and weight gain. These symptoms are relatively well-discussed, but what about depression? Let us see the cause of depression in menopause and a possible remedy to it.
What causes depression in menopause?
Menopause comes when the female body dramatically reduces and even ceases the production of certain hormones, which causes radical changes everywhere in the body. One of these hormones is called estradiol, which is the major female sex hormone. It is responsible for the regulation of the menstrual cycle, the development of the breasts, the widening of the hips and much more.
Women are at twice the risk for developing anxiety and depression than men are. Studies also proved that ovarian hormones, estrogen and progesterone, have potent neuromodulatory effects and have been shown in both human and animal studies to shape female emotionality. The dramatic changes in estradiol levels in the body are linked with bipolar and major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, which explains why postmenopausal women suffer from these psychological issues so often compared to the average female population.
Combating depression with hormone therapy
Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT for short, is designed for women experiencing menopause. The idea is to supplement the hormones that the body stops producing in order to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms.
In 2001, a study was conducted involving 50 perimenopausal women who were experiencing different kinds of depression, namely major depression disorder, dysthymic disorder, and minor depressive disorder, to find out whether a certain type of estradiol is effective against menopause-induced depression. According to a study transdermal estradiol replacement, alone or in combination with an antidepressant such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is effective for women who experience mood liability or depression during the menopausal transition.
Another study, spanning six years between 2010 and 2016, also found that HRT is more effective than placebo in preventing depressive symptoms among perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women. The double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study involved 172 participants, who received a combination of transdermal estrogen plus intermittent progestin.
However, a meta-analysis of 24 studies on the topic of efficacy of HRT in case of depression found that there is little evidence to support the claim that hormone therapy is effective against perimenopausal depression.
Depression can be complicated
Since it is a mental illness, the root of depression cannot always be precisely determined. Numerous factors may be at play in the development of depression, and hormonal imbalances associated with menopause may be only one of them. What is certain is that hormones affect our mood, and hormone replacement therapy may help keep hormone levels in balance, making life easier for those suffering from menopausal symptoms and decrease the pressure on affected women.
Consult your doctor first
There is hard evidence that effective medical procedures exist for treating menopause-induced depression. If you are affected too, we recommend you consult your doctor to find the most effective treatment for you, so you can enjoy life in these trying times as well.