HRT, Menopause Advice, Perimenopause
At Bristol Menopause & Wellwoman Clinic, we are proud to share important new research led by our Clinical Lead, Dr Jo Burgin, alongside a team of three other medical professionals, exploring a crucial but often overlooked area of women’s health: the link between mental health and perimenopause in general practice consultations.
Why This Research Matters
Perimenopause, the transitional years before menopause, is a time of significant hormonal change. For many women, this period brings not only physical symptoms like hot flushes and irregular periods, but also profound mood changes, including anxiety, low mood, and irritability. Yet, these mental health symptoms are frequently misattributed or missed altogether.
Dr Burgin’s study, "Mental health consultations during the perimenopausal age range – Are GPs and patients on the same page?", investigates this communication gap between women and their GPs. Her findings shed light on the missed opportunities and challenges that many women face when seeking help.
What the Study Found
This qualitative research involved interviews with 18 women aged 45–55 and 11 GPs. All women had visited their GP with a mental health concern in the past six months. The aim? To understand how these consultations unfolded – and whether the perimenopause was considered as a possible contributing factor.
Key findings include:
Women often don’t connect the dots: Many participants were unsure whether their mood symptoms could be linked to perimenopause. Some felt uncertain, others embarrassed to bring it up.
GPs aren’t always asking: While some GPs recognised the potential link between hormone changes and mental health, approaches varied widely. Others admitted to gaps in training or confidence in addressing menopause-related issues.
Stigma and time pressures are barriers: Both patients and GPs reported that stigma, especially around menopause and mental health, along with limited appointment time, made these conversations more difficult.
What Needs to Change
The conclusion of the study is clear: to improve mental health outcomes for women in midlife, we must strengthen both GP training and patient education around perimenopause. Women need to feel confident raising concerns, and GPs need the tools to recognise and manage perimenopausal symptoms effectively.
What This Means for You
If you’re in your 40s or 50s and experiencing new or worsening mental health symptoms, it’s worth asking whether hormonal changes might be playing a role. Mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and even depression can be part of perimenopause – and there are many ways to help, from lifestyle changes to HRT.
At Bristol Menopause & Wellwoman Clinic, we believe in taking women’s mental health seriously. Our team offers comprehensive, personalised care that looks at the whole picture – including your hormones.