Mental Health Changes in Women from Postpartum to Menopause

Women go through many changes throughout their lives. Puberty and pregnancy are well-known examples, but they’re not the only ones. The changes that occur after a woman’s childbearing years are equally important.

The postpartum period, perimenopause and menopause are not just physical changes. These hormonal shifts, coupled with life events and stress, can significantly impact a woman’s mental health.

Unique Challenges of the Postpartum Period

The postpartum period (first 8-12 weeks after childbirth) can be a mix of joy and stress. You have a new baby, but you’re also dealing with fluctuating hormone levels and neurotransmitters (your brain’s chemical messengers). Together, all these factors can make a woman more likely to experience:

Postpartum Anxiety

It’s normal to worry about keeping your baby safe and healthy. But if that worry feels overwhelming or interferes with your life, you could have postpartum anxiety. This condition can cause ongoing feelings of panic, nervousness or fear.

Postpartum Blues

Also called the “baby blues,” postpartum blues affect about 80 percent of new moms. Sudden changes in hormone levels after childbirth can trigger feelings of sadness and mood changes. This condition goes away on its own within two weeks.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) is more severe than the baby blues and doesn’t go away on its own. PPD affects 1 in 8 women during pregnancy or up to a year after giving birth. It can cause overwhelming feelings of sadness or hopelessness and difficulty connecting with your baby.

Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (pOCD)

Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (pOCD) causes obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (an urge to do things over and over). If you have pOCD, you may:

• Have repeated, unsettling thoughts that can cause intense fear and horror, such as something bad happening to your baby
• Feel a constant need to respond to these thoughts by excessively checking on your baby, washing your hands or performing other behaviors to protect your baby

Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A difficult or traumatic delivery can trigger postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you have postpartum PTSD, you may have nightmares, flashbacks or panic attacks. Events that may trigger postpartum PTSD include:

• Complications during childbirth
• Emergency cesarean section
• Stillbirth
• Unexpected health problems in your baby

Perimenopause and Mental Health

Perimenopause is a transition between the childbearing years and menopause that can last 2 to 10 years or even longer. Estrogen levels gradually decline as your body approaches the end of your periods. During this phase, you have an increased risk of:

Anxiety and Depression

During perimenopause, many women are parenting older children or caring for aging parents. You may also have mixed feelings about the end of your childbearing years. These challenges, coupled with hormonal changes, can trigger mood disorders.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects many women during perimenopause. PMDD can cause depression, anxiety, panic attacks and sleep disturbances in the days leading up to a woman’s period.

Mental Health and Menopause

Once you reach menopause (12 months after your last period), your ovaries no longer make estrogen or progesterone. A lack of estrogen can cause hot flashes, sleep problems and mood swings.

Women who’ve reached menopause have double the risk of depression compared to the childbearing years. Research also shows that women in menopause are more likely to develop anxiety. The risk may be due to a combination of neurotransmitter changes and life events like the death of loved ones.

Women Need Support at Every Stage

Different stages of life may increase your risk of experiencing mental health issues. But that doesn’t mean you should accept these problems as a normal part of life or that you need to “tough it out.”

Trinity Health Michigan offers Women’s Health Services for all your needs, including:

• Comprehensive OBGYN Behavioral Health Program that provides expert psychosocial support for women.
• Counselors and social workers who provide compassionate support and proven talk therapy methods.
• Mental health screening and support during postpartum care and well-woman visits.
• On-staff psychiatrists in our women’s health clinics who are ready to help with mental health needs without a separate appointment.
• Pregnancy and parenting classes to help new moms connect and feel confident.
• Specially trained nurses in our hospitals who can spot mental health symptoms in women who’ve recently given birth.

Stay well at every age by getting the right medical care. Your OB/GYN can help you take the first step toward good health.

Trinity Health Michigan OB/GYNs are trained to help you manage mental health needs and coordinate your care.

Find a Trinity Health OB/GYN Today

If you are having thoughts of suicide, help is always available. Call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.