Skip to main content
Gennev is covered by insurance companies. Check if you're in network now.
How Gennev Works
Refer a Patient
For Patients
Symptoms & Treatments
Weight Management
How Gennev Works
Insurance & Pricing
Patient Resources
For Clinicians
Clinicians Overview
Refer a Patient
For Employers
Learn
Education
Webinars
About
Menopause-trained Doctors
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
About Gennev
Shop
Login
Book Now
Menu
For Patients
Patients
Symptoms & Treatments
Weight Management
How Gennev Works
Insurance & Pricing
Patient Resources
Book Now
Login
For Clinicians
Clinicians
Clinicians Overview
Refer a Patient
Book Now
Login
For EmployersLearn
Learn
Education
Webinars
Book Now
Login
About
About
Menopause-trained doctors
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
About Gennev
Book Now
Login
Shop
Book Now
Login
Article

Perimenopausal depression: we really need to talk

Author
Anne Miano
Medically reviewed by
Share:
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Sign up for our newsletter

Get helpful articles about menopause and evidence-based treatments in your inbox.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

“Ever heard of perimenopause depression? A woman’s risk of depression doubles or even quadruples during the menopausal transition.”

“Some studies show that  one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode  in their lifetime.”

Depression can be debilitating – sucking the joy out life, making activities we once enjoyed uninteresting, rendering work impossible, closing us off from those we love. Even more, clinical depression, when untreated, significantly increases a person’s risk of suicide.

In the manner of ripping-off-the-Band-Aid, let’s get the ugly statistics out of the way first.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Suicide rates among women increased by 50 percent from the year 2000 to 2016.
  • Suicide rates are accelerating among women, going from a 2 percent increase per year between 2000 and 2007 to a 3 percent increase each year from 2007 to 2016.
  • Suicide rates among women were highest in the 45 – 64 age group.

Perimenopause and menopause can cause or exacerbate depression. Depression can lead to suicidal ideation, attempt, and completion.

So, with all that, well … we really need to talk. Openly. Honestly. Often.

Kate Spade’s suicide at 55 was as mystifying as it was devastating to many of us. She was bright, beautiful, wildly successful, and overflowing with talent and creativity – who could have imagined she would “choose” to end her life? And while no one but Ms. Spade can truly know what was going on in her mind and heart, her suicide has helped lend urgency to an overdue conversation about the link between menopause and depression.

A link that leads, too often, to suicide.

So what’s going on here?

If you are experiencing perimenopause depression, a Gennev menopause-certified gynecologist can give you a trusted opinion, determine if medication is right for you, and they can provide prescription support. Book an appointment with a doctor here.

Defining terms: what is “clinical depression”?

We use “depression” as a blanket term to cover a range of emotions, and that’s not only inaccurate, it can be dangerous. Anyone who’s suffered from clinical depression will tell you it’s very different from sadness or grief and needs to be treated accordingly. Depression rises to the level of “clinical” when it lasts for two weeks or longer and comes with other symptoms such as change in appetite, loss of interest or pleasure in things you usually enjoy, changes in sleep patterns (too much or too little), feelings of worthlessness or guilt, increase in “purposeless” activity like pacing, and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression as a symptom of perimenopause is not uncommon, but should be taken seriously.

What causes perimenopause depression? Is it hormones?

Rather infuriatingly referred to as the “menopause blues,” depression in perimenopause – the years leading up to menopause – is fairly common, though it should never be regarded as “normal.” Estrogen interacts with certain chemicals in the brain, including those which regulate mood (which explains menopausal anger). In some women, this translates to  rage, in others, menopause anxiety symptoms. And in many, depression. Hormonal fluctuations during the perimenopause years seem to make women particularly vulnerable.

The risk is even greater when a woman has experienced depression earlier in her life. Birth control and HRT can cause depression in some women, help alleviate it in others. Pretty clearly, there’s a hormonal component. This is critical to understand because so many women are too ashamed and embarrassed to seek help, feeling as though they’re just being “weak.” They try and tough it out on their own, the way they grit their teeth and get through the hot flashes and headaches.

But we wouldn’t ask someone to simply “tough out” diabetes or leukemia or hypertension, and depression is no different: if your depression lasts longer than two weeks and significantly impacts your day-to-day life, you should seek professional help.

Is it a midlife crisis?

In addition to hormones, the realities of aging may play a role. Realizing you haven’t yet achieved your goals may be tougher at 50 than at 30, particularly in a sexist, ageist society that seems bent on telling women their lives are pretty much done when their ability to reproduce is gone.

Is it external pressures?

There are plenty of pressures outside our heads and hormones that can contribute to depression: Aging parents. Empty nest or wishing it were empty because the kids are in their “challenging” teen years. More responsibility at work, or more competition from younger colleagues. Physical challenges of perimenopause and menopause, including hot flashes, poor sleep, weight gain, headaches. Relationship challenges from a deflated libido and painful sex. Worries over a financial future in retirement.

So now that I’ve scared you and have you rethinking every time you got tearful at a Budweiser commercial (come on, those Super Bowl ones with the Clydesdales have all the feels), here’s the good news…

Depression is treatable

Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment.”

Emerging from depression is not easy. It might mean taking medications you’re not entirely comfortable with, like  SSRIs  or other antidepressants. It may take time in psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where you train your brain to problem-solve its way out of negative thought patterns, can be quite effective against depression.  Brain stimulation therapies  such as ECT can help in more severe cases.

When depression is painful but not “clinical” in intensity or duration, there are many effective things you can do on your own: exercise is a wonderful, natural mood elevator (especially when it’s over), quality sleep, Omega 3s (in fact, here's a bottle of fatty acids we recommend), sunshine, St. John’s wort, strong social connections with family and friends, good work, avoiding sugar, and – and we have the science to back it up – self care. It’s true: simply doing more pleasurable activities helps us be more positive generally. Surprise!

And the even better news for women in midlife: rates of depression decline in post-menopausal women, once hormones level out and the body and brain adapt to their new normal.

Depression should never be taken lightly. Mild depression can disrupt our ability to enjoy our lives fully. Major depression is dangerous. Life-threateningly dangerous. And it takes far too many women who are truly in their prime.

If you feel you or someone you care about may be suffering from depression, there is help. You can start finding your way back from depression by talking to a doctor or calling the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255. If you've dealt with depression or had thoughts of suicide, how did you recover? We'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment here, or start a thread in our community forums. You can also reach out to us on Gennev's public Facebook page or in our closed Facebook group.

This article was first published on PRiME WOMEN and is republished here with permission. 

 

 

Resources

All about menopause

+ Read More
Article

Heart-Healthy Nutrition Myths

+ Read More
Article

3 Ways Sleep Affects Metabolism

+ Read More
Article

The Emotional Toll of Sleep Issues

Get started

Schedule your appointment

Book Now

Reach out

Contact our patient care team

Contact Us
Email directly:
support@gennev.com
Gennev Logo
Logo for Unified Women's Healthcare.

Looking for an in-person OBGYN?

Check out Unified's network of providers

Gennev Logo
Treatments & SymptomsHow Gennev WorksResources for EmployersResources for Care ProvidersInsurance & PricingShop
LearnWebinarsAbout GennevOur CliniciansRegistered Dietitian NutritionistsContactTestimonials From Real PatientsCareers
Facebook social network IconLinkedin social network IconInstagram social network IconTiktok social network Icon
Copyright © 2020. Gennev. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UseYour Privacy RightsPrivacy PolicyNotice of Privacy PracticesDiscrimination is Against the Law
Close

You Deserve Better Than Mediocre Menopause Advice

Say goodbye to outdated, generic advice. Get exclusive insights and expert strategies to thrive during menopause.

Get everything you’ve ever wanted to know about menopause, perimenopause, and midlife.

Sign up successful! Check your inbox for updates.
We encounter an error, please try again.

By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions and that you agree to receive emails from us. Unsubscribe at any time.

Your newsletter submission was sent successfully, thanks! 🎉