perimenopause - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

New Research from the CWMH: Surgically Induced Menopause No Worse than Natural in Terms of Risk for Depression, Anxiety

Each year about 600,000 women in the United States undergo a hysterectomy. Somewhere between 55% and 80% of these women who also have their ovaries removed along with the uterus—a procedure known as oophorectomy. After the removal of the ovaries, menopause follows immediately and is associated with a constellation of symptoms including hot flashes and insomnia, as well as depression and anxiety.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:02:53-04:00August 2nd, 2012|Depressive Disorders, Menopausal Symptoms, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Research at CWMH|Comments Off

New Research from the CWMH: History of Depression and Anxiety Predict Lower Quality of Life in Midlife Women

The National Comorbidity Survey estimates that by the time women reach midlife, approximately 23% have experienced at least one episode of major depression and 30% have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Depression and anxiety disorders are each associated with impaired functioning and lower quality of life (QOL). There is also some data to suggest that, even after a depressive episode resolves, those with a history of a affective illness have a lower quality of life than those without histories of depression, with impairment in social and interpersonal functioning.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:02:53-04:00July 24th, 2012|Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Menopausal Symptoms, Research at CWMH|Comments Off

Soy Supplements: No Effect on Cognition in Postmenopausal Women

Soy-based products have long been touted as a treatment for menopausal symptoms. However, many of the clinical studies measuring the effectiveness of dietary sources of soy isoflavones (e.g., soy beverages, soy powder) for the treatment of menopausal vasomotor symptoms (i.e., hot flushes, night sweats) have been negative. Less is known about the effects of soy on cognition. A large clinical trial suggests that soy may not have any positive effects on cognition in postmenopausal women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:31:30-04:00July 18th, 2012|Alternative & Complementary, Cognition, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off

Red Ginseng May Help with Menopausal Symptoms But Is It A Good Choice for All Women?

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:34:20-04:00June 19th, 2012|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

In Brief: Menopausal Symptoms Usually Go Untreated

In this study, half of women aged 45 to 60 years reported experiencing menopausal symptoms. 69% of these women reported that their symptoms have negatively affected their lives. Among the women who endorsed menopausal symptoms, 72% had not received any treatment for their symptoms and 77% reported that they had not discussed treatment options with their healthcare providers.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-07-22T13:44:53-04:00June 18th, 2012|Depressive Disorders, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

New Research from the CWMH: Progestins Do Not Negatively Affect Mood in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women

More than half of all women initiating treatment with hormone therapy will stop within the first year of treatment, most often because of side effects. Mood disturbance is a relatively common side effect that occurs with hormone therapy, and previous studies have suggested that progestins in the combined hormone preparations are responsible for these negative mood effects.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:02:53-04:00May 30th, 2012|Depressive Disorders, Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Research at CWMH|Comments Off

Yaz and Other Oral Contraceptives Will Carry a New Warning Label

The FDA will require Yaz, Yasmin and several other newer oral contraceptives to carry new warning labels that detail the potential risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE or blood clots). All oral contraceptives increase the risk of blood clots; however, recent studies have suggested that birth control pills containing drospirenone, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone, may carry a slightly increased risk of VTE, compared with older birth control pills. The FDA estimates that over a one year period, 10 in 10,000 women taking an oral contraceptive with drospirenone would develop a blood clot , as compared to about 6 in 10,000 women taking older contraceptives.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T15:27:01-04:00May 24th, 2012|Contraception, General, Hormone Therapy|Comments Off

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding More Common in Midlife Women with Histories of Depression

Menstrual problems are common among premenopausal women and become more frequent with increasing reproductive age, especially just before and during perimenopause. In the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a multisite study of menopause and aging, information regarding menstrual history was collected in a total of 934 premenopausal and early perimenopausal women between the ages of 42 and 52. History of major depression was associated with an increased likelihood of heavy bleeding (odds ratio, 1.89), adjusting for recent major depression, menopause status, and other confounding factors. History of depression was not associated with other abnormal bleeding or premenstrual symptoms. Future longitudinal studies are needed to explore why past depression increases the likelihood of subsequent heavy menstrual bleeding in midlife women. One possibility is that irregular fluctuations in estrogen levels may be responsible for both abnormal menstrual bleeding, as well as the dysregulation of neurotransmitter systems that mediate depressive symptoms.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T16:16:56-04:00May 22nd, 2012|Depressive Disorders, Menopausal Symptoms, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

Aerobic Training Improves Menopausal Symptoms and Mood

In this randomized clinical trial, 154 sedentary, symptomatic women were randomly assigned to an aerobic training or a control group. The intervention included unsupervised aerobic training for 50 minutes four times weekly for 24 weeks, whereas the control group attended health lectures twice a month. Night sweats, mood swings, and irritability were reduced more among the women in the intervention group than in the control group.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T16:51:26-04:00March 12th, 2012|Alternative & Complementary, Depressive Disorders, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off

The Truth About Bioidentical Hormones

In increasing numbers, women who are candidates for hormonal replacement therapy are requesting “bioidentical” rather than synthetic hormones. Although there is a tendency to think of bioidentical hormones as “all-natural”, they, like synthetic hormones, are manufactured in the laboratory. In contrast to synthetic hormones, they are chemically identical to the hormones produced by the human body; synthetic hormones are structurally different yet are designed to have similar biological effects as naturally produced hormones.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-04-14T22:59:40-04:00November 23rd, 2009|Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off