Prof. Pauline Maki - Identifying and treating perimenopausal depression

The International Menopause Society is proud to provide the interview series for health care professionals on current topics of interest in the field of menopause.
In the series, IMS Board Member Dr. Marla Shapiro interviews renowned experts on menopause and midlife women’s health.

In this episode Prof. Pauline Maki will talk about “Identifying and treating perimenopausal depression”. Mood changes are common in perimenopausal women, so it is important that providers stay informed on frequency, risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment options. This recording discusses the link between hormonal changes and depressive symptoms, and provides helpful information on both subclinical depressive symptoms and clinical depression.

The views expressed by speakers are their own and may not necessarily represent the views of the IMS

[HD]

Thank you so much for tackling this issue which’s really important a lot of women are struggling and nobody know about them 😢

[susan]

I have bipolar and nothing including things that have worked previously have helped my depression during perimenopause, so with that said, I think you need to look at the whole picture when a woman presents with depression during perimenopause and realize that the best option may be hormone therapy instead of antidepressants

[sandbar]

How is bad grief different from Peri Menopausal depression and what happens if someone is going through both grief and Peri Menopausal depression? I hate this! I have good days and bad days. I'm going to go for a walk. I haven't walked since I put my dog down in March 2021 I miss him greatly.

[joco]

I havent got a history of a depression, but my sypmtoms have been horrid to the point its wrecks my life.

[tinamiller]

I have dealt with depression my entire life. Menopause brought on two suicide attempts. Still dealing with the ramifications.

[merryheather]

Dr. Maki stated that the root cause of perimenopausal depression was estradiol reduction. So why does she prescribe SSRIs? Antidepressants treat the symptoms not the ROOT CAUSE!

[lauriegenie]

Thank you!!! Now, trying to find a doctor who will listen to me!

[jilllindfield]

I found after menopause that the SSRIs I had used for the past 28 years no longer worked….I had a terrible terrible time working that out, it took months of hell. What worked in the past did no longer work at all.

[sandbar]

help. I"m in Peri and I feel like a teenager again with this depression. I can't even concentrate and It's hard to look for work. I mean work that I want to do. Not any ole stupid warehouse job. If I want to work in Human Resources, I need to be on top of my game and this depression is keeping me low low low low. I can't do this. I need something. I'm thinking HRT NOT anti depressants. Those thing are HORRIBLE and It took me 6 yrs to try to get off of one of them. Never again. Never.

[adriapeet]

Thank you for this info. I have a history of depression/anxiety and my hormone test results show I'm estrogen dominant & low progesterone. I'm wondering which HRT is best? Just progesterone alone? Or estrogen as well?

[lisaharrison]

Not true I disagree I never had depression or took meds at all since I’m in menopause I’m not myself at all crying sad mood not great so the hormones have lots to do with mood for sure

[MGSpecial]

The guidelinesay need to be looked at again. I have had mild clinical depression prior to perimenopause and the same meds no longer work. Exercise not talking works best, along with D3 and dhea. Talking makes me feel like a complete failiand I usually end up in tears or with suicidal ideations. I still have short bouts of serious and not so serious depression. Unfortunately HRT isn't available in my country and our Doctors aren't educated in the treatment of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. One is expected to just deal with it.

[hasinapatel]

I have had i bout of depression 4 years ago took the meds had 6:24 better came of meds
52 peri menopausal feeling depressed not able to exercise just a changed person don't recognise myself.
No reason for feeling like this evething has just got on top of me is it depression or menopausal no one can tell me .