Perimenopause

Articles tagged with "Perimenopause".

Why Menopause Destroys Sleep and What Actually Helps

Tags: Menopause, Sleep Disturbance, Hormone Therapy, Perimenopause

November 15, 2025

Why Does Menopause Wreck Your Sleep?

Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause disrupt multiple sleep mechanisms, affecting up to 60% of women. Declining estrogen reduces REM sleep and increases sleep fragmentation, while progesterone loss eliminates its natural sedating effects. Hot flashes, anxiety, and mood changes create a perfect storm of sleep disruption that often persists for years without proper treatment.

Dr. Kumar’s Take

Sleep disruption is one of the most underrecognized and undertreated aspects of the menopausal transition. Women often suffer for years, trying ineffective sleep hygiene tips or becoming dependent on sleeping medications, when the real solution is addressing the underlying hormonal changes. Quality sleep is not a luxury during menopause; it’s essential for cognitive function, mood stability, and long-term health. Hormone therapy can be transformative for sleep quality in ways that no sleeping pill can match.

Why Perimenopause Triggers Depression and How to Treat It

Tags: Perimenopause, Depression, Hormone Therapy, Mental Health

November 15, 2025

Why Do So Many Women Develop Depression During Perimenopause?

Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause directly trigger depression in up to 30% of women, even those with no prior history of mood disorders. The dramatic swings in estrogen and progesterone levels disrupt neurotransmitter systems, particularly serotonin and GABA, creating a biological vulnerability to depression that’s distinct from life circumstance-related mood changes.

Dr. Kumar’s Take

Perimenopausal depression is one of the most misunderstood and undertreated conditions in women’s health. Too often, women are told their mood changes are “just stress” or “part of getting older,” when in reality they’re experiencing a hormonally-driven medical condition that responds well to appropriate treatment. The tragedy is that many women suffer for years with antidepressants that don’t address the root cause, when hormone therapy could provide more targeted and effective relief.

Why Perimenopause Triggers First-Time Depression in Healthy Women

Tags: Perimenopause, First-Onset Depression, Mood Disorders, Hormone Fluctuations

November 15, 2025

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.