Menopause and Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

14 January, 2010 No Comment

Certain menopausal symptoms may worsen for those women with bipolar disorder. Though researchers have not found any direct connection between bipolar disorder and menopausal syndrome; but many studies have shown that women with bipolar disorder face more sensitive phase of life due to the hormonal change during menopause. The depressive episodes faced by women during the time of menopause are more acute in this case.

Connection between menopause and bipolar disorder: the effect of estrogen

Though the direct connection between bipolar disorder and menopause is not known, but many researches have proved that due to change in level of estrogen hormone, bipolar disorder during this sensitive phase of human life gets affected.

Due to higher level of estrogen hormone, mood gets brightened up. While lower level of estrogen has dampening effect on our mood. Level of estrogen gets down during menopause and five to ten years before the time of menopause. This stage of women life is known as perimenopause.

Decrease in estrogen hormone has doubling effect on bipolar disorder with the prolonged episodes of depression.

Connection between menopause and bipolar disorder: it is not applicable for all

Change of estrogen hormone doesn’t impart effect on every woman. Though many women feel depressive during this phase of life. But it doesn’t they all are suffering from bipolar disorder. It is better to check hormone level while you reach mid thirties. Thus, any hormonal change causing depressive disorder should not be overlooked at this stage of women’s life.

Connection between menopause and bipolar disorder: how to take care

When you’re detected with hormonal imbalance, it is advisable for you to go for few therapies like:

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Hormone Replacement Therapy is the best when you don’t feel any improvement even after changing the dose of medication or change in life style.

There are certain side effects of HRT like stroke, heart disease and blood clots. Thus, this therapy should be taken with proper precaution. Few women with certain health condition are never advised to take this therapy.

Talk therapy: It is always advisable to take talk therapy with a good counselor, who can always help you to speak out your problems like negative thoughts, change in life and your body etc.

Sometimes some drugs like synthetic estrogen are not advisable to treat this disorder. It is rather advisable to take lower dose of other medicines and other hormone combination.

After knowing the connection between menopause and bipolar disorder, it is advisable that you should consult doctor if any depressive symptom is seen during menopausal phase of life.