Latest news with #TheMenopauseSociety
Hans India
5 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Why early menopause raises risk of depression in some women
Severity of menopause symptoms and lack of emotional support are likely reasons why some women experience depression during early menopause, finds a study on Wednesday. Premature menopause, medically known as premature or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), is a condition in which the ovaries cease to function normally before the age of 40. It has been linked to an elevated lifetime risk for depression and anxiety. Affected women not only experience the effects of oestrogen deficiency, but they also experience the unanticipated loss of reproductive function. However, some women are more adversely affected by depression and anxiety by these changes than others. The study, published online in the journal Menopause, suggests that risk factors include younger age at diagnosis, severity of menopause symptoms, lack of emotional support, and fertility-related grief. 'The high prevalence of depressive symptoms in those with POI highlights the importance of routine screening in this vulnerable population,' said Dr. Monica Christmas, associate medical director for The Menopause Society. 'Addressing behavioural-health concerns with evidence-based interventions should be part of any comprehensive POI care plan,' Christmas added. The study based on 345 women with POI found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 29.9 per cent. No significant difference was found in depressive symptoms between women using oestrogen plus progestogen therapy and those not using the therapy. The use of hormone therapy or levels of oestradiol were not associated with depressive symptoms. 'Although hormone therapy is recognised as the standard of care for those with POI for management of some menopause-related symptoms and preventive care, it is not a first-line treatment for mood disorders,' said Christmas. 'This was evident in this study in which there was no difference in depressive symptoms between those using hormones and those not using hormone therapy. Addressing behavioural-health concerns with evidence-based interventions should be part of any comprehensive POI care plan,' she added.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Early menopause raises depression risk, calls for mental health screening
For some women, the symptoms of menopause arrive far earlier than expected - not in their late 40s or 50s, but sometimes as early as their 30s or even 20s. This condition, known as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), occurs when the ovaries stop functioning before the age of 40. It leads to reduced fertility and a sharp drop in reproductive hormones, triggering a cascade of physical and emotional changes. While the physical effects of POI — such as irregular periods, hot flashes, and infertility — are well known, a growing body of research is shedding light on its psychological impact. A new study has found that women with POI face a significantly higher risk of depression and anxiety, prompting experts to call for better mental health support and integrated care. According to the Cleveland Clinic, POI differs from natural menopause in both timing and cause. It may strike much earlier than expected, especially in women over 30, though it can sometimes begin in the teens or twenties. A 2024 study published in Nature found that five per cent of Indian women in rural areas and three per cent in urban areas experience premature menopause — with rates varying across states. Some common symptoms for POI include: Irregular or missed periods Decreased sex drive Difficulty concentrating Irritability Dry eyes Hot flashes and night sweats Infertility Painful sex due to vaginal dryness But what's less commonly discussed is its impact on mental health. How POI increases the risk of depression and anxiety A new study published in The Menopause Society journal has found that women with POI report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms. The study found that nearly one-third (29.9 per cent) of the women with POI, participating in the study, suffered from depressive symptoms. They were also about three times more likely to have depression and about five times more likely to have anxiety. These results highlight the importance of comprehensive care, addressing both physical and psychological aspects of menopause at an early age. According to researchers, several factors may contribute to this: Hormonal disruption: The sharp decline in oestrogen can affect brain function and mood regulation. Early loss of fertility: For many, this comes as a shock, leading to feelings of grief, loss, and lowered self-worth. Lack of awareness and late diagnosis: Many women are misdiagnosed or left untreated, compounding distress. The researchers additionally found that a younger age at POI diagnosis, severe menopause symptoms, fertility-related grief, and lack of emotional support were some of the risk factors. Why experts are calling for mental health screening in POI care Dr Monica Christmas, associate medical director at The Menopause Society, highlighted the importance of routine mental health screening in women with POI, noting that the high rates of depressive symptoms make this a vulnerable group. She added, 'Although hormone therapy is recognised as the standard of care for those with POI for management of some menopause-related symptoms and preventive care, it is not first-line treatment for mood disorders. This was evident in this study in which there was no difference in depressive symptoms between those using hormones and those not using hormone therapy. Addressing behavioural-health concerns with evidence-based interventions should be part of any comprehensive POI care plan.' For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS
NDTV
6 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Early Menopause Increases Risk Of Depression In Some Women. Here's Why
New Delhi: Severity of menopause symptoms and lack of emotional support are likely reasons why some women experience depression during early menopause, finds a study on Wednesday. Premature menopause, medically known as premature or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), is a condition in which the ovaries cease to function normally before the age of 40. It has been linked to an elevated lifetime risk for depression and anxiety. Affected women not only experience the effects of oestrogen deficiency, but they also experience the unanticipated loss of reproductive function. However, some women are more adversely affected by depression and anxiety by these changes than others. The study, published online in the journal Menopause, suggests that risk factors include younger age at diagnosis, severity of menopause symptoms, lack of emotional support, and fertility-related grief. "The high prevalence of depressive symptoms in those with POI highlights the importance of routine screening in this vulnerable population," said Dr. Monica Christmas, associate medical director for The Menopause Society. "Addressing behavioural-health concerns with evidence-based interventions should be part of any comprehensive POI care plan," Christmas added. The study based on 345 women with POI found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 29.9 per cent. No significant difference was found in depressive symptoms between women using oestrogen plus progestogen therapy and those not using the therapy. The use of hormone therapy or levels of oestradiol were not associated with depressive symptoms. "Although hormone therapy is recognised as the standard of care for those with POI for management of some menopause-related symptoms and preventive care, it is not a first-line treatment for mood disorders," said Christmas. "This was evident in this study in which there was no difference in depressive symptoms between those using hormones and those not using hormone therapy. Addressing behavioural-health concerns with evidence-based interventions should be part of any comprehensive POI care plan," she added.
Perth Now
04-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Women get angrier with age but become better at controlling temper
Women become angrier as they age - but they are able control it better. A new study has found that the frequency with which females feel rage and the intensity of the emotion increases over time but also shows that they learn to calm themselves down and become less likely to openly express their fury. Experts at the University of Washington analysed data on more than 500 women aged between 35 and 55, all of whom provided details on their menstrual cycles and answered questions designed to assess their anger. The study authors wrote in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society: "Ageing was significantly related to anger, with anger expression indicators decreasing with age, suggesting emotion regulation may occur during midlife." Studies of anger in midlife women and the emotion's health implications have tended to focus on heart disease, blood pressure and depression but experts are now calling for females to be educated on mood changes and symptoms that can have a "profound effect" on their quality of life.
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Anger management improves with age In women, study says
July 2 (UPI) -- Remember your sweet-hearted grandmother, who never seemed out of sorts no matter what nonsense landed in her lap? That's a skill, and it improves during a person's lifespan, a new study says. Women get better at managing their anger as they age, starting in middle-age, researchers reported Wednesday in the journal Menopause. That doesn't mean they're less angry. Researchers found that as women got older, they were more prone to anger and their anger became more intense, results show. But women also became less likely to express their anger or act with hostility, researchers found. 'These findings are consistent with research on emotion regulation efforts during aging, such that efforts to control anger increase along with experiences of anger,' concluded the research team led by Nancy Fugate Woods of the University of Washington School of Nursing in Seattle. For the study, researchers analyzed data from 271 women taking part in the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study, a long-term research project that started in the early 1990s. As part of the project, participants filled out a questionnaire related to their anger and hostility levels up to four or five times over the years. Results showed that as women aged, they became more adept at managing anger even though they felt it more acutely. Researchers said this might be because women feel more generativity - a sense of positively impacting the world by caring for others, particularly future generations - as they go through middle age and menopause. 'Implying greater emotional complexity among older adults, some of these changes may be seen in midlife and contribute to a sense of integration and maturity, supporting the development of generativity with aging,' researchers wrote. Women also might become more tactical with their anger, expressing it in ways that are more positive and constructive to improve relationships, researchers said. Women who use anger in a positive way tend to feel better empowerment and self-regard. More research is needed on women's anger in the context of everyday life, to provide more information on emotion regulation and anger management strategies, researchers said. 'The mental health side of the menopause transition can have a significant effect on a woman's personal and professional life,' Dr. Monica Christmas, associate medical director for The Menopause Society, said in a news release. 'It is well recognized that fluctuations in serum hormone concentrations during the postpartum period, as well as monthly fluctuations in reproductive-aged women corresponding with their menstrual cycles and during perimenopause, can result in severe mood swings associated with anger and hostility,' continued Christmas, who was not involved in the study. 'Educating women about the possibility of mood changes during these vulnerable windows and actively managing symptoms can have a profound effect on overall quality of life and health,' she said. More information The American Psychological Association has more on anger management. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
