A new UCL study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, found that women are 40% more likely to experience depression during perimenopause than those who do not experience menopausal symptoms.
A meta-analysis of seven studies involving 9,141 women worldwide showed that perimenopausal women had a significantly higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms compared with premenopausal women.
The perimenopause stage usually begins three to five years before the onset of menopause. During this stage, a woman’s estrogen and progesterone levels begin to fluctuate, leading to mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, and other menopausal symptoms, such as increased feelings of depression.
Researchers found that perimenopausal women had a significantly higher risk (about 40%) of experiencing depressive symptoms and being diagnosed with depression compared to premenopausal women.
The study also found that there were no significant increases in the risk of depression for postmenopausal women.
Lead author Dr Roopal Desai, from UCL’s Division of Psychological and Language Sciences, stressed the need for greater support for perimenopausal women, saying:
“Our findings emphasize the importance of recognizing that women at this stage of life are more vulnerable to depression. They also underscore the need to provide support and screening to women to help them address their mental health needs effectively.”
Lead author and UCL master’s student Yasmeen Badawy said the findings were consistent across different cultures and lifestyles.
“The combination of data from global studies indicates that these findings cannot be attributed solely to cultural factors or lifestyle changes that have sometimes been used to explain the depressive symptoms experienced by women during perimenopause.”
The study builds on previous research indicating that therapies such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively treat non-physical symptoms of menopause.
