--- title: Does changing hormones during menopause cause depression? | Niyora description: Changing hormones during menopause may disrupt the body's stress-management system, making depression more likely. This is a theory based on reviewing researc url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/ovarian-hormone-fluctuation-neurosteroids-and-hpa-axis-dysregulation-in-2015/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does changing hormones during menopause cause depression? Survey study, 2015 # Does changing hormones during menopause cause depression? Changing hormones during menopause may disrupt the body's stress-management system, making depression more likely. This is a theory based on reviewing research, not new evidence from testing. Early or limited evidence A review of research about women experiencing menopause ## What they did The authors reviewed research about depression during menopause, animal studies, and other hormone-related mood disorders to develop a theory about what causes this depression. ## What they found Depression increases 2 to 3 times during the menopause transition. The authors propose that changes in ovarian hormones disrupt a brain chemical that helps regulate the stress system, which makes women more vulnerable to depression. ## What it means for you This explains why some women get depression during menopause. The main limit is that this is a theory based on other studies, not new research testing actual women. 2 to 3 times increase in depression during menopause transition ## About the study Original title Ovarian hormone fluctuation, neurosteroids, and HPA axis dysregulation in perimenopausal depression: a novel heuristic model Authors Gordon JL, Girdler SS, Meltzer-Brody SE et al. Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 2015 Study design Survey study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.14070918](https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.14070918) ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Reproductive hormone sensitivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-hormone-sensitivity/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Review, 2012 Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause? Review, 1999 Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder? Non-randomised trial, 2024 Does luteal phase sertraline treatment affect stress hormones and inflammation in PMDD? Survey study, 2023 Could treatments that affect the brain's GABA system help PMDD? Review, 2023 How does the stress response system affect depression during reproductive stages like PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗