Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Anxiety symptoms were most common among women in perimenopause
A review of 21 studies involving 24,523 women examined how reported anxiety symptoms differed across stages of menopause.
A meta-analysis of 15 studies compared anxiety symptoms among premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Women in perimenopause had the highest odds of reporting anxiety, while postmenopausal women also had higher odds than premenopausal women.
The findings show an association, but do not prove menopause causes anxiety or that anxiety rises in each woman over time.
Perimenopause is the transition before menopause, which is defined as 12 months without menstrual periods.
The results support greater clinical awareness of anxiety symptoms during this transition, where guidance differs: the World Health Organization recognizes anxiety as a possible symptom, while UK NICE guidelines do not explicitly list it.
The findings may help inform future clinical guidance and mental health care for women.
A review found that women in perimenopause had the highest odds of reporting anxiety symptoms among the three menopausal stages studied.
Women in perimenopause and postmenopause had significantly higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms than premenopausal women.
The review covered 21 studies involving 24,523 women, with 15 studies included in the meta-analysis.
The findings support clinical awareness of anxiety during the menopause transition but do not show that menopause causes anxiety or that symptoms rise within individual women over time.
- Who
- Researchers reviewed evidence involving 24,523 women across menopausal stages.
- What
- The review found the highest odds of reported anxiety symptoms among women in perimenopause.
- When
- The review searched studies published through August 16, 2024. It was published on October 25, 2026.
- Where
- The studies involved women from multiple countries.
- Why
- Researchers aimed to clarify how reported anxiety symptoms differ before, during and after menopause.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The review’s database search covered studies through this date.
News-Medical published its report on the review’s findings.
- Studies reviewed
- 21 peer-reviewed studies
- Women included
- 24,523
- Studies in meta-analysis
- 15
- Highest odds of anxiety
- Perimenopause
- Journal
- Scientific Reports