Depression And Menopause

As women reach midlife and menopause one of the things to watch out for is depression. While menopause is not thought to be a cause of depression, the two could actually happen at the same time. What is believed to be a cause of depression is changes in estrogen levels which happen throughout menopause. It is known that women are affected by depression more than twice as much as men and that a family history of depression could be a factor also.

The symptoms of depressions and menopause are really similar and consist of sleep disorders, hot flashes, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability.  Lots of women relate these symptoms with the changes that menopause brings, but they may be a sign of depression that has to be understood and dealt with.  There is no need for women to be suffering from depression during menopause.  It is very important that they acknowledge the physical changes occurring to their bodies throughout this time and work with their physician to mitigate the symptoms of menopause, but it is also essential that they realize that depression and menopause could be mutually exclusive and both can be coped with. 

As women approach menopause their menstrual cycles begin to change and start to become unpredictable.  This unpredictability of their every month cycle is a sign of erratic ovulation.  Erratic ovulation causes unpredictable releases of the hormones estrogen and progesterone which lead to mood swings, forgetfulness, hot flashes and all the other symptoms associated with menopause. 

Most women going through menopause often feel that they are losing control of their bodies when in fact it is just their natural response to the aging process.  This feeling of loss of control can cause symptoms of depression.  As the symptoms of both menopause and depression get worse they start to feel like there is nothing they can do and a feeling of hopelessness falls over them.  This feeling of hopelessness is a major part of depression and if left untreated can cause severe depression.  

Untreated depression is a major health risk.  Researchers have discovered that depression is connected to an increased risk of heart disease and sometimes it can cause bone deterioration raising the chances of developing osteoporosis and broken bones. 

The treatment for depression and menopause can follow a two pronged approach.  It is important to treat not just the depression with antidepressant medications and counseling but also to treat the symptoms of menopause as well.  Menopause could be treated with hormone replacement therapy where synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone are used to stabilize the woman's hormone levels.  

If you are a woman approaching midlife and menopause be aware that depression could be a very actual side effect of the changes that will occur to you.  If you experience the symptoms of depression it is best for you to consult your physician regarding what treatment alternatives might work best for you.