Key things to understand

• Why new research is highlighting the mental health impact of menopause

• Symptoms that may appear during peri-menopause

• How hormonal changes influence mood and wellbeing

• How FSH hormone levels help explain menopause-related changes
  
  

New research highlights the menopause mental health awareness gap

Recent reporting has drawn attention to a significant awareness gap around menopause and mental health. A national poll found that 4 in 5 adults do not realise menopause can trigger a new mental health condition.

Many people still associate menopause primarily with physical symptoms such as:

• hot flushes

• night sweats

• reduced sex drive

• mood swings

However, hormonal changes during peri-menopause can also influence emotional well-being. Research suggests that women in the peri-menopause stage may have around a 40 percent higher risk of depression compared with women who are not experiencing menopausal symptoms. Hormonal fluctuations during this stage can affect mood regulation, sleep patterns and emotional resilience.

Greater awareness of these changes can help women recognise when emotional symptoms may be linked to menopause.

Recognising symptoms that can appear during peri-menopause

Peri-menopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause when hormone levels begin to fluctuate. Symptoms vary widely and often develop gradually over time.

Mental health related symptoms may include

• anxiety

• low mood

• irritability

• mood swings

• difficulty concentrating

• reduced confidence

Physical symptoms may include

• hot flushes

• night sweats

• sleep disruption

• joint aches

• fatigue

• irregular periods

Because these symptoms can appear slowly, many women initially attribute them to stress, lifestyle factors or ageing. Understanding how menopause affects both physical and emotional health can help women identify these changes earlier.

Understanding how hormonal changes influence mood

Hormones play an important role in regulating the brain’s chemical messaging systems. During peri-menopause, levels of several hormones begin to change:

• oestrogen

• progesterone

• testosterone

Oestrogen helps regulate neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA, which influence mood, anxiety and sleep patterns. When hormone levels fluctuate, women may experience:

• mood changes

• anxiety

• emotional sensitivity

• disrupted sleep

Sleep disturbances caused by night sweats can further affect emotional wellbeing and daily energy levels. Many women begin thinking about menopause when physical or emotional changes start to appear.

Situations that often prompt women to pay closer attention to menopause symptoms include:

• irregular or changing menstrual cycles

• sudden mood changes or anxiety

• night sweats or disrupted sleep

• persistent fatigue or brain fog

Understanding the hormonal changes behind these symptoms can help women interpret what their body may be experiencing during the menopause transition.

Comparing menopause symptoms with hormone indicators

Understanding symptoms alongside hormone changes can provide helpful context during peri-menopause.

A woman in her late forties may begin experiencing anxiety, sleep disruption and difficulty concentrating. Initially, these symptoms may be attributed to work stress or daily life pressures. After reviewing symptoms and hormone levels, she may discover that hormonal changes linked to peri-menopause could be contributing to these experiences.

Recognising this connection often helps guide the next steps in understanding and managing menopause symptoms.

Understanding how menopause hormone testing works

Menopause is typically recognised through symptoms and medical history. In some cases, hormone testing can provide additional insight into hormonal changes occurring in the body.

One hormone commonly measured is FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone).

During the menopause transition, FSH levels usually rise as the ovaries gradually produce less oestrogen. Monitoring FSH levels may help women:

• understand whether symptoms may be linked to hormonal changes

• observe hormone patterns during peri-menopause

• track hormonal changes over time

• discuss symptoms more clearly with healthcare professionals

Hormone testing does not replace medical advice but can help provide useful insight into the hormonal changes taking place.

Tracking hormone levels can help women better understand the changes happening during peri-menopause.

About Berkeley Health menopause testing

Berkeley Health provides a range of home health test kits designed to support preventive health monitoring.

One example is the Berkeley Health Menopause FSH Rapid Test, which allows women to check FSH hormone levels at home using a simple sample.

The test is designed to help women:

• check hormone levels associated with menopause

• better understand possible menopause transition stages

• monitor hormonal changes privately at home

More information about the test is available here:

Menopause FSH Rapid Test Kit UK | Home Hormone Test – Berkeley Health Limited

Berkeley Health also offers home health tests covering areas such as fertility, gut health, vitamin levels and infections.

Menopause affects every woman differently, and symptoms can sometimes be difficult to recognise at first. Learning how menopause influences both physical and emotional health can help women identify changes earlier. For women experiencing mood changes, sleep disruption or irregular cycles, understanding hormone patterns may provide helpful context.

Monitoring FSH levels through tests such as the Berkeley Health Menopause FSH Rapid Test can offer insight into hormonal changes during the menopause transition.

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