The fluctuation of estradiol (a form of estrogen) common during the transition period to menopause can increase emotional sensitivity to psychosocial stress. When combined with a very stressful life event, this sensitivity is likely to contribute to the onset of depression, according to researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill(United States).
Researchers conducted a 12-month study on the effects of transdermal administration of estradiol in perimenopausal women. Result: the variability of estradiol leads to the development of depressive symptoms, irritability and feelings of rejection. It also increases the sensitivity of women to “social rejection”, and in case of other psychosocial stressors (divorce, mourning, dismissal …) increases mental vulnerability and can lead to depression. A significant proportion of women, between 26% and 33%, will develop clinically significant depressive symptoms against the background of the hormonal flow of perimenopause.
“Understanding the impact of hormonal fluctuations associated with menopause on women’s mental health is obviously essential in choosing the best treatment options for patients who complain of stress, depression, or mood swings,” explains JoAnn Pinkerton, Obstetrics and Gynecology researcher at the University of Virginia. “It is also a question of evaluating the effectiveness of the various possible interventions for the management of these psychosocial effects, and also to re-specify the indications of the hormonal therapy of the menopause”.
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