Survey study, 2015
Does lower estrogen during menopause cause depression and anxiety?
Women going through menopause who had depression had lower estrogen levels than those without depression, suggesting a link. The very small sample means we cannot prove this causes depression.
What they did
Measured estrogen hormone levels and checked for depression and anxiety symptoms in 30 women going through menopause with irregular periods.
What they found
Women with depression had clearly lower estrogen levels than women without depression. Hot flushes, body weight, smoking, age, and PMS levels were similar between the two groups.
What it means for you
Lower estrogen during menopause may be connected to depression. The main limits are the very small sample of 30 women and this being a one-time study, so other causes cannot be ruled out.
30
women studied
20
FSH IU threshold
About the study
- Original title
- The effect of perimenopausal estrogen levels on depression and anxiety: a pilot study
- Authors
- Buket Belkız Güngör, Mahmut Gungor, İbrahim Taymur et al.
- Journal
- The European Research Journal
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 30
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.18621/eurj.2015.1.1.8
Topics
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