As well as the physical symptoms associated with menopause, it can take a toll on our mental health too. Knowing what to expect and how to manage it will make your journey through ‘the change’ much smoother. Here we detail everything you need to know.
The menopause is something that all women will experience. It occurs when women’s periods stop due to lower hormone levels; the ovaries will stop producing as much of the oestrogen hormone and no longer release an egg each month. Progesterone levels will also decline.
This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55; with the average age being 51. Around 1 in 100 women can experience menopause before the age of 40 – either naturally for often unknown reasons, because of medical reasons such as removal of the ovaries or uterus, or as a result of cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
Menopause is deemed to have occurred after 12 consecutive months without a period. It marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years – she can no longer become pregnant; except in rare cases where specialist fertility treatment is given.
The time leading up to this event is known as perimenopause.
Oestrogen controls neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that carry signals between cells) such as serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine, which all contribute to mood regulation.
When your oestrogen levels decline as a result of menopause, these neurotransmitters are also impacted, leading to a change in your mood.
If you have low levels of oestrogen, then you may have more mood swings, depression, anxiety trouble concentrating, fatigue and irritability.
Getting a good night’s sleep, eating healthily and exercising regularly will all help towards improving your mood. That said, they’re not always easy to achieve, so check out our linked guides for advice.
You can also try meditating or engaging in exercise that allows you to focus on your breathing and relax, such as yoga, pilates or tai chai.
Talking to family members and friends about how you're feeling can also help ease stress, so give this a go. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone you know, you could speak to your GP about trying cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is a type of talking therapy sometimes available through the NHS.
If you’re finding work difficult, particularly if you lack concentration and are getting brain fog regularly, chat to your employer to implement tools that could help.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the main medical treatment method for managing menopausal symptoms.
It replaces your body’s levels of oestrogen and/or progesterone, which can help to alleviate mood swings, brain fog, fatigue and irritability.
If you’re suffering from anxiety or depression, then you could also consider trying anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication. Note that guidance from menopause experts suggests that these should not be taken as first-line treatment as there are other things you can try first.
For personalised advice, book a consultation with your GP or private menopause specialist.
As always, if you have any questions you can use our Menopause Q&A where you can ask for more advice.
We have lots of Menopause FAQs, Menopause videos, Menopause reviews, and Menopause before and after images for you to do more research.
If you want to look for your nearest verified Menopause clinic, your local menopause clinics are listed below.