Early transition to menopause has been linked to anxiety and depression

The menopausal transition is accompanied by changes in the menstrual cycle and hormonal function and may begin earlier than expected. The researchers studied the condition of women who had already reached this stage by the age of 46, and compared them with their peers who had not yet entered the transition. About how the early transition to menopause is associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression, see the Izvestia article.

Menopause at 46: what the study showed

The study was published in the scientific journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (AOGS). The researchers analyzed data from 2,632 women from the Northern Finnish cohort born in 1966. All participants were examined at the age of 46.

356 women, or 13% of the participants, have already started menopausal transition. The researchers determined his status based on hormone levels, menstrual cycle data, and other medical information. They then compared the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms with those of women whose transition had not yet begun.

What happened to the psychological state

Significant symptoms of anxiety were found in 22.6% of women who had already entered menopause, compared to 16% in the comparison group. After accounting for smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and education level, the relationship remained: the probability of severe anxiety symptoms was 44% higher.

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Depressive symptoms were also more common.

Symptoms of depression were more often noted by women who had already started menopause: 30.1% versus 24.6% among the peers from the comparison group. After taking into account concomitant factors, the relationship also persisted — the probability of symptoms was 39% higher.

When using another tool for assessing depressive symptoms, the rates were also higher for women in the menopausal transition — 17.7% versus 13.6%. However, after statistical adjustment, no independent relationship was found in this analysis. Thus, the results for depressive symptoms turned out to be less unambiguous than for anxiety.

What they suggest considering

The authors believe that the results obtained emphasize the need to pay attention to the psychological state of women during the menopausal transition, especially if it begins at a younger age.

At the same time, the work shows a statistical relationship, rather than proving that an earlier transition to menopause directly causes anxiety or depression. The study is based on data from a single age cohort, so further research is needed to assess the mechanisms and causes of this association.