Menopause and Mental Health

Every woman experiences the menopause differently. 

Often it doesn’t just cause physical symptoms, it can impact your mental health as well.

What is the menopause?

Every woman will experience menopause, but your experience is unique to you.

In the simplest terms, menopause is the time when you stop having periods and can no longer get pregnant naturally. This occurs because your ovaries stop producing eggs and, as a result, the levels of the hormones they produce (oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone) fall.

Although many of us use the word ‘menopause’ to describe the period of time when we notice our periods begin to change and we experience typical menopausal symptoms, the menopause is in fact a single day: when you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. That said, perimenopause can start well before menopause and the symptoms can last for several years.

The average age of menopause for women in the UK is 51, but it could happen sooner or later than this.

What treatment is available?

The main medicine treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces the hormones that are at low levels.

There are other treatments if you cannot, or choose not to, have HRT.

HRT
Complementary and alternative therapies
Non hormone treatments

How can it affect your mental health?

For lots of women, the menopause can have a significant impact on their mental wellbeing.

You might experience:

  • feeling low
  • anxiety
  • mood swings
  • problems with memory and concentration
  • low energy and motivation
  • panic attacks
  • new fears and phobias
  • low self-esteem

You might be feeling this way because of the hormonal changes that are happening in your body. Or you might find that living with other symptoms of the menopause is affecting your mental health.

What other things may affect my mental health?

Dealing with symptoms like weight gain, joint pain and hot flushes can be difficult to cope with and may affect your mood.

You might also have difficulty sleeping, night sweats and bladder problems that stop you from getting enough rest. These can also contribute to feeling low and stressed. Some women may also become depressed.

You might also feel low, anxious or sad for other reasons. Around the time of the menopause, many people find themselves going through changes in their work life, family life and dealing with bereavement. You might also feel sad about no longer being able to have children or feel worried about getting older.

What can I do to look after my mental health?

Eat well
Sleep well
Exercise
Relaxation techniques
Recite Me accessibility and Language Support