SureFire Women Health

Have you ever wondered about the relationship between depression and menopause?

Depression is a condition that is suffered by twice as many women as men. When women reach their middle age they are more at risk to suffer from depression. This may be caused by a personal history of depression or be hereditary. Studies have shown that menopause is a time in a woman’s life when she is most likely to become depressed. During menopause, a woman experiences a gradual decline in the levels of estrogen and this can contribute to the beginning of depression.

Many symptoms that a woman goes through during menopause are similar to symptoms displayed during depression. These symptoms can be a lack of interest or pleasure in activities, a change in eating habits, a change in sleeping patterns, loss of energy, a lack of concentration, irritability, anxiety and even thoughts of suicide. Because some women think that these symptoms are a natural result of aging, they do not speak out about the discomforts and problems that they are experiencing. You should never think that depression is a normal part of getting old, and its symptoms should never be ignored.

If depression is not treated it can become more severe and physical complications such as an increased risk of heart attacks can develop. Studies have also shown that depression can also lead to a loss of bone density which may cause an increased risk of suffering from a bone fracture.

Depression is not incurable, so if you are one of those suffering from depression it is good to know that you can obtain treatment for your condition. You should also know that there are many different treatments available for the condition of depression.

It is also good to know that there are many antidepressant medications available that are very effective for the treatment of depression and women that are moderately or severely affected should consider it an essential part of their treatment.

Even though it is believed that estrogen can be helpful in the treatment of depression in the early stages of menopause, this fact has not been fully established. It is therefore necessary to consider other treatments. To determine the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy, you should discuss this treatment with your doctor.

If you are experiencing symptoms of depression you should consult your doctor and request a physical examination to determine if you are suffering from any physical illness that may be causing your depression. As you get older it is more likely that you will develop such physical illness. You should also be aware that certain medications can sometimes cause some symptoms of depression so it is important that you refer all medications to your
doctor.

There are other kinds of  treatment that you can undergo for your depression such as psychological therapy or you can speak to other trained professionals either on a short term or long term basis. Undertaking this kind of treatment can be very helpful for your depression.

In recent years more and more people have shown interest in using herbs and dietary supplements for the treatment of depression, one of the most common being St John’s Wort. So far scientific studies on this form of  alternative  treatment have not been regulated nor well controlled so it should only be used on a short time basis.

So now you know about depression and menopause.

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