Health · Medical Research · 15 hrs ago
Research links perimenopause to mood changes beyond hot flashes
Perimenopause can affect mood before menopause, according to research on the transition women experience before their last menstrual period.
One early sign is a regular change in cycle length, with periods becoming at least seven days shorter or longer than usual.
Mood symptoms may fluctuate, and anger and irritability can also be significant; one three-month study found more than half of the women studied experienced moderate-to-severe levels.
Changes in sleep, hot flashes and hormones predicted week-to-week changes in anger in that study.
Hot flashes do not explain all low mood: mood symptoms can rise before hot flashes appear, and the two do not always occur together.
Menopausal hormone therapy can help treat hot flashes and night sweats, while vaginal estrogen can help with vaginal dryness and sexual difficulties.
Treatment depends on the symptom, and the evidence does not support treating hormone therapy as a cure-all.
Research cited in a Nation article links perimenopause to mood changes that can occur beyond hot flashes.
A study by the article author’s team found that more than half of the perimenopausal women followed for three months experienced moderate-to-severe anger and irritability.
Weekly changes in sleep quality, hot flash severity and hormones predicted weekly changes in anger in that study.
The article says depressive mood can rise early in the menopause transition, before hot flashes emerge.
It also says hot flashes do not fully explain the increase in low mood during perimenopause.
- Who
- Perimenopausal women, as discussed in a Nation article.
- What
- Research links perimenopause to mood changes including anger, irritability and depressive mood, not only hot flashes.
- When
- The article was published on November 8, 2026. The study followed women for three months.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The article says mood changes are associated with the menopause transition and that weekly changes in sleep quality, hot flash severity and hormones predicted changes in anger.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nation published an article reviewing evidence about perimenopause, menopause and mood.
The article’s author’s team followed perimenopausal women and reported that more than half struggled with moderate-to-severe anger and irritability.
- Study duration
- Three months
- Study finding
- More than half struggled with moderate-to-severe anger and irritability
- Hot flashes
- 60 to 80 per cent of women experience them in the years leading up to and following their last menstrual period
- Article publication
- November 8, 2026
- Outlet
- Nation (Kenya)
What people are saying
don’t feel like themselves.