The endocrine changes experienced during menopause and the peri-menopausal period have been reported to cause disruptions in mood and quality of life in women. These quality-of-life changes and mood disturbances are experienced in both surgical and physiologic menopause. This Article Collection aims to collect research on the catalysts of mental health and mood changes that menopausal and peri-menopausal women experience, as well as the current methods for addressing and treating them.
Through the menopausal transition, vast fluctuations, and ultimate decrease in estrogen production result in the experience of physical, psychological, endocrine changes. These changes manifest as symptoms far beyond the usually cited vasomotor symptoms including insomnia, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, increased irritability, depression, and anxiety. Those with a predisposition to or underlying mental health disorders often experience emergence or recurrence of these mental health disturbances. These symptoms are both less recognized and less studied and treatments for perimenopausal symptoms are not directed towards these insidious symptoms.
In addition to natural transition to menopause, surgical treatments for gynecologic diseases can result in onset of menopausal symptoms. In many cases, symptoms in this setting are more dramatic and difficult to treat. While we know that surgical removal of the ovaries induces menopause and thus accompanying hormonal shifts, in hysterectomy has more recently been shown to impact mood even without the removal of ovaries. The topic of efficacy of management strategies for surgically induced menopausal symptoms in younger women, including mood lability, concentration deficits and insomnia invites further study.
Understanding of the underlying pathophysiology into these areas will be key to guide women through their mental health journey prior to, during, and after the menopausal period.
This Collection invites research articles, reviews, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, editorials, case reports, or position statements focusing on the following topics:
- Emergence and predisposition to perimenopausal mood disturbance: risk factors and treatment options.
- Predictive factors for women experiencing significant mood disturbance in perimenopause
- Timeline for onset and natural history of mood disturbance in perimenopause
- Diagnosis and treatment of perimenopausal mood disorders
- Treatment for menopausal mood disturbance from surgically induced menopause.
Dr. Lauren Schiff is a fellowship trained Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon and Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently serves as the Associate CMO of Quality and Safety for UNC Medical Center. In addition to her administrative role, she is actively engaged in patient care and teaching as a clinician and surgeon. She is dedicated to caring for women with fibroids, endometriosis, complex benign gynecologic surgical conditions, hormonally induced gynecologic conditions, and pelvic pain disorders.
Dr. Schiff has no conflicts of interest to report regarding this work.
