Learn about the effects of menopause on mental health Brazil

Menopause is a natural stage in the lives of all women and is characterized by significant hormonal changes that affect various aspects of health, including mental health. During this period, changes in the levels of estrogen and progesterone can lead to a series of symptoms that go beyond the physical scope, and exert a direct influence on emotional balance.

Among the most common challenges they face is emotional instability. Fluctuations have the potential to cause mood changes, irritability and anxiety, which greatly affects mental health at this stage of life.

Psychoanalyst Marcia Cunha explains that psychological disorders do not arise directly from hormonal changes, however, they can be secondary consequences of this imbalance, often exacerbating symptoms.

“This connection is evident in menopause, a period in which important hormones for the female body, such as estrogen and progesterone, rapidly decline. For example, a decrease in estrogen in the central nervous system affects neurotransmitters, leading to changes in mood and sleep.” And desire. Sexuality, bone density, and cardiovascular health. “Moreover, progesterone has an anxiolytic function, and its decline can exacerbate anxiety in women.”

When stress, anxiety, mood swings, and depression are of moderate severity and have no prior history, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be a useful option, psychiatrists advise.

However, HRT is not for all women. In these cases, antidepressants, especially selective inhibitors, may be prescribed to treat mental health problems and to relieve menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, which are similar to sudden hot flashes.

“Many women have difficulties in realizing that they are not well and that they need help. In the past, and even today, it was shameful for women to admit that they are suffering from menstruation. It is necessary to seek support and talk about these issues,” he highlighted.