Does longer exposure to estrogen during a woman’s adult life may provide protection against depression during menopause and post-menopause?
Researchers reached the finding after studying a decade’s worth of data for more than 1300 women, aged 42 to 52 years, who were menstruating regularly and premenopausal at the start of the study. The study aimed to discover why some women are more vulnerable to depression during and after menopause even though all women experience hormone fluctuations during the transition (a study published online in the journal Menopause).
Of special interest to researchers was the effect of estradiol, the predominant estrogen during the reproductive years. Estradiol modulates the synthesis, availability, and metabolism of serotonin, a key neurotransmitter in depression, they explained. The duration of exposure to estradiol throughout the adult years varies among women.
Researchers found that longer estrogen exposure from the start of menstruation through menopause was significantly linked with a reduced risk of depression from the start of menopause through at least a decade afterward.
Longer duration of hormonal birth control use was also associated with decreased depression risk, according to the study. Number of pregnancies or breastfeeding, however, was not.
“Women are more vulnerable to depressive symptoms during and after the menopause transition because of fluctuating hormone changes,” said JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society. “This study additionally found a higher risk for depression in those with earlier menopause, fewer menstrual cycles over lifespan, or more frequent hot flashes.
“Women and their providers need to recognize symptoms of depression such as mood changes, loss of pleasure, changes in weight or sleep, fatigue, feeling worthless, being unable to make decisions, or feeling persistently sad, and take appropriate action,” Dr. Pinkerton added.
