You probably know that menopause brings hot flashes and changes in sleep. What is less talked about is what happens in the mind.
For a smaller group of women, those changes arrive years earlier than expected.
Women who had already entered the menopausal transition at 46 reported more anxiety and depression than peers who had not.
The finding comes from a new Finnish study in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
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The study followed more than 2,600 women from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. At age 46, only 13 percent had already begun the menopausal transition.
Those who had were 44 percent more likely to report clinically significant anxiety than their peers.
What the Finnish study found
Among women in the menopausal transition, about 23 percent reported clinically significant anxiety. In the comparison group, the figure was 16 percent.
For depressive symptoms, just over 30 percent of women in transition reported them. In the comparison group, just under 25 percent did.
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The association held after researchers adjusted for smoking, alcohol use, body mass index and education.
Participants were classified based on hormone measurements, menstrual cycle information and medication records.
"Recognizing psychological symptoms can help ensure that women receive timely treatment and support during menopause," said Tiia Saarinen. Saarinen is a medical doctor and doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu.
Why early menopause often goes unrecognized
In the United States, the average age of menopause is 52, according to the US Office on Women's Health.
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When symptoms arrive years earlier, both patients and clinicians may not connect new anxiety or low mood to a hormonal shift.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, early menopause (before 45) happens in about 1 in 20 women. Premature menopause (before 40) happens in about 1 in 100.
The Finnish team notes that mood symptoms during menopause often get labeled as stress or burnout.
For women whose transition starts earlier than usual, that gap in recognition can delay appropriate care.
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What women in their 30s and 40s can watch for
Signs include irregular periods, hot flashes, changes in sleep, new anxiety and persistent low mood.
A primary care doctor or gynecologist can order hormone testing and talk through treatment options.
Those options may include hormone therapy, mental health support or both. The Office on Women's Health advises talking with a provider when low mood or reduced interest in activities lasts beyond a few weeks.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.