Menopause and Mental Health with Dr. Mary Claire Haver

May 3, 2024

Menopause expert Dr. Mary Claire Haver discusses the impact of menopause on mental health, debunking myths around hormone therapy. Chapters cover hormone levels, depression, dietary strategies, supplements, and self-advocacy in healthcare decisions.

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INSIGHT

Estrogen Tunes Brain Chemistry

Estradiol supports brain receptors for serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, so its decline raises neuroinflammation and mental health risk.
Reintroducing estrogen can upregulate receptors but may take time to restore prior function.

ADVICE

Consider HRT As Part Of Treatment

Consider hormone therapy (estradiol) as an adjunct when new mental health symptoms begin in perimenopause.
Use SSRIs/SNRIs and therapy too, but discuss HRT if symptoms persist or don't respond.

INSIGHT

WHI Panic Distorted HRT Risks

The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative caused widespread fear about HRT and breast cancer, but later nuance showed risks depend on the formulation.
For most women, benefits of properly managed HRT outweigh risks when individualized.

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Learn more about Menopause, and Dr. Haver's book and other treatments at https://thepauselife.com/

Menopause can really impact mental health, but there are effective treatments, you don’t just have to grit your way through it, so let’s talk about it, and I’m excited to have menopause expert Dr. Mary-Claire Haver here to share the medical aspect of it.

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