Depressed mood through women's reproductive cycle: Correlation to mood at menopause

Objectives: Depressive symptoms are frequent through the different stages of a woman's reproductive cycle. The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible correlation of depressive mood before menstruation, during pregnancy, after delivery and around the menopause. Methods: The sample consisted of 110 women (mean age 52 years, standard deviation 4 years) who rated their mood at present and retrospectively at different stages of the reproductive cycle. Mood was rated using a visual analogue scale. Results: A significant statistical association was found between the present mood and mood at the premenstrual period, but not with mood at pregnancy or after delivery. These findings were independent of age, menopausal status or use of hormone replacement therapy. Conclusions: The statistical association between depressed mood around menopause and before menstruation supports the assumption that there is a common etiology, which could be attributed to hormonal or psychological factors, or both.