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Some women going through menopause say that they feel low or depressed. And some women say they have mood swings.^{1 2}

Some women say they feel:

• Irritable
• Anxious
• Less confident
• Panicky
• Forgetful
• Unable to concentrate
• Low in energy.

The changes many women go through at this time of life may also play a part in mood swings. You may feel less needed after your children have left home, or you may have to look after elderly parents. Things like this can make the changes that menopause brings harder to deal with, especially if you are not sleeping well because of hot flashes or night sweats. Between 22 percent and 33 percent of menopausal women said that they were depressed.¹

We don't know if these feelings are caused directly by the drop in levels of the hormone estrogen that happens when you go through menopause.

Some studies have found a link between menopause and feeling depressed. But these studies tend to include women who have come to the doctor for other reasons. This means that we can't be certain whether other problems might be causing these women to feel depressed. Other studies of women have found no links between going through menopause and feeling depressed.

It may be that if you have been depressed before or if you used to get premenstrual syndrome (PMS), you may be more likely to feel depressed at this time.^{2 3} However, most women go through menopause without feeling depressed.²

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.