Why Perimenopause Triggers First-Time Depression in Healthy Women
Can Perimenopause Cause Depression in Women Who’ve Never Been Depressed?
Absolutely. Perimenopause can trigger first-onset mood disorders in up to 25% of women with no prior history of depression or anxiety. The dramatic hormonal fluctuations during this transition create a biological vulnerability to mood disorders that’s independent of life circumstances, genetics, or previous mental health history.
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This is one of the most important concepts for women and their providers to understand. When a previously mentally healthy woman develops depression or anxiety during perimenopause, it’s not a character flaw or inability to cope with aging. It’s a hormonally-driven medical condition that deserves recognition and appropriate treatment. Too many women are told their symptoms are “just stress” when they’re actually experiencing a biological phenomenon that responds well to hormonal intervention.