Causes of Mood Swings

By Menopause Now Editorial Team | Updated: Jun 18, 2020

Did you know?

During the stage prior to menopause, called perimenopause, estrogen levels can jump drastically, which effectively increases serotonin levels and causes spikes in mood.

Mood swings during menopause are primarily due to hormonal fluctuations women experience during this time. Hormones such as estrogen influence the production of serotonin, which is a mood-regulating neurotransmitter.

Many additional factors can trigger mood swings during menopause, including other menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, physical changes, and fatigue. Continue reading to learn more about the causes of mood swings in order to manage your symptoms.

Hormonal Causes of Mood Swings

The hormones estrogen and progesterone play a major role in the brain's regulation of mood and emotion. When hormone levels are naturally balanced, an individual is more likely to have appropriate emotional responses to her environment.

However, mood swings may affect a woman during periods of hormonal change, such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause.

During menopause, the body begins to decrease its production of reproductive hormones. This change in hormone levels disturbs the body's natural equilibrium, which can affect a woman's emotions and her moods.

Estrogen and the Brain

Estrogen plays a large role in the brain's production of serotonin. Because perimenopausal hormone imbalances temporarily affect serotonin production in the brain, there is an increased chance of mood swings, depression, and other psychological disturbances during menopause.

Hormone imbalance affects production of serotonin in the brain

While hormonal imbalance is thought to be a major underlying cause of mood swings during menopause, experts point out that mood fluctuations can also be caused or triggered by other menopause symptoms.

Estrogen's Effects on Serotonin

Increases serotonin receptor sensitivity
Increases serotonin receptor levels
Increases serotonin production

Keep reading to find out how other menopause symptoms can affect mood.

Other Causes of Mood Swings

Menopausal Causes of Mood Swings

Night sweats
Hot flashes
Sleep problems
Fatigue

Women in their 40s and 50s - often overwhelmed already by work and home stresses - may suffer from fatigue, hair loss, bloating, sleep problems, hot flashes, and other symptoms that can directly contribute to mood swings.

Caution

Estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can cause side effects including breast tenderness, headache, nausea, fluid retention, and mood swings.

Night sweats can disturb sleep, leading to irritability, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and mood swings during the day. During the day, hot flashes can make a woman more temperamental because of the additional stresses caused by these intense and disruptive episodes.

Physical menopausal changes such as vaginal dryness, weight gain, migraines, and other ailments can increase irritation and discomfort, making the occurrence of mood swings more likely.

Going through all these hormonal changes can be exhausting for women. The resulting fatigue may also contribute to disturbances in emotion. Keep reading to learn more about treatments for mood swings.

Treatments for Mood Swings

Sources

Amin, Z. , Canli, T. & Epperson, C.N. (2005). Effects of Estrogen-Serotonin Interactions on Mood and Cognition. Behavorial and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews, 4(1), 43-58. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15886402
Love, S. & Lindsey, K. (2003). Dr. Susan Love's Menopause and Hormone Book. New York: Three Rivers Press.
Office on Women's Health. (2010). Menopause and mental health. Retrieved April 12, 2016, from http://womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-mental-health/

During menopause, your metabolism changes and your body becomes more sensitive to nutritional deficiencies. It's more important than ever to consume these essential vitamins for taming anxiety and fighting depression. If you are lacking certain vitamins in your diet, bringing them up to healthy levels could help.

Alcohol can be a fun and social addition to a night out, but it is important to drink in moderation in order to avoid its negative side effects. Drinking heavily can encourage feelings of aggression, anger, and depression. It can also seriously impair basic motor functions. It's important to stay in control of your drinking.

How to Cope with Your Wife's Menopausal Mood Swings

The menopause is a difficult stage of life for women as it sees their body and its functions alter dramatically. One symptom commonly experienced by women is mood swings. While these episodes can seem frustrating they are manageable. Check out our article for advice on how to cope with your wife's mood swings.