Menopause may Cause Depression

[Angel]

Even women who go their entire life with no symptoms of depression are likely to experience the onset of depression when they transition into menopause. While the connection between the two has long been suggested, until now no scientific studies had been done to confirm the relationship.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia followed 230 premenopausal women with no history of depression. The women, between ages 35 and 47, were tracked for eight years. Over the course of the study they had their blood checked for hormone levels and were interviewed about their health and symptoms of menopause.

After analyzing the data, researchers discovered symptoms of depression were more than four-times more likely to occur during the transition into menopause as compared to during the premenopausal stage. The results also show a connection between hormone levels and a higher incidence of depressive symptoms.

Study authors say, "The findings support the possibility that destabilizing effects of the cyclic fluctuations of estradiol, which can increase with ovarian aging, particularly in the transition to menopause, are an important factor both for depressive symptoms and for diagnosis of depressive disorders."

Investigators say further studies need be done to determine which symptoms are limited to the transition into menopause and which symptoms are associated with more persistent depression.