New Delhi: A recent study has revealed that women who experience early menopause are more likely to suffer from depression, especially if they have severe symptoms or lack emotional support. Early menopause, also called premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), happens when a woman’s ovaries stop working properly before the age of 40. This condition not only causes physical symptoms due to low estrogen but also brings emotional challenges because of the unexpected loss of fertility.
The study looked at 345 women diagnosed with POI and found that nearly 30 percent showed signs of depression. Interestingly, the study found no significant difference in depression levels between women who were taking hormone therapy (estrogen plus progestogen) and those who were not. This suggests that hormone therapy, while helpful for some physical symptoms, may not directly improve mood or prevent depression.
Experts say that factors such as younger age at diagnosis, how severe the menopause symptoms are, feelings of grief related to fertility loss, and a lack of emotional support all increase the risk of depression in these women. The emotional impact of early menopause can be especially hard because it often comes as a shock and disrupts a woman’s expectations about her reproductive life.
Dr. Monica Christmas, associate medical director of The Menopause Society, emphasized the importance of regular mental health screenings for women with POI. “Depressive symptoms are common in this group, so it’s important to identify and address them early,” she said. She added that behavioral health interventions, like counseling and therapy, should be a key part of any treatment plan for women with POI.
While hormone therapy remains the standard treatment to manage some physical symptoms of early menopause and reduce the risk of related health issues, it is not considered a primary treatment for depression or anxiety. The study reinforces this by showing that hormone use did not reduce depression symptoms among the participants.
Overall, this research highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to care for women with premature ovarian insufficiency — one that includes both physical and emotional support to improve their quality of life.