Perimenopausal women report higher anxiety levels than other groups

Women in perimenopause report higher rates of anxiety symptoms than premenopausal and postmenopausal women, News-Medical reported. Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 studies involving 24,523 female participants to examine midlife mental health across different stages. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports. [1]

The meta-analysis evaluated 15 specific studies and found that women in both perimenopause and postmenopause faced higher odds of anxiety than premenopausal women. The highest odds of reporting anxiety were observed during the perimenopausal stage. However, researchers noted that the cross-sectional design of the evidence cannot prove that menopause causes anxiety. [1]

Menopause marks the permanent end of menstrual periods and the female reproductive phase, which typically occurs naturally between 45 and 55 years of age. The menopausal transition consists of three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Natural menopause is caused by a decline in the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. [2]

Researchers aimed to clarify how anxiety reporting shifts before, during, and after menopause, as the topic remains poorly understood in midlife mental health. The findings highlight an increased prevalence of reported symptoms during the transition phase, though further longitudinal research is needed to determine direct causes. [1]