Could Perimenopause or Menopause Be Affecting My Mental Health
If you have started feeling more anxious, irritable, low, forgetful or emotionally unlike yourself, menopause may not be the first explanation that comes to mind.
If you have started feeling more anxious, irritable, low, forgetful or emotionally unlike yourself, menopause may not be the first explanation that comes to mind.
Perimenopause and menopause can affect mental as well as physical wellbeing. NHS guidance includes mood changes, low mood, anxiety, sleep problems, memory difficulties and problems concentrating among recognised symptoms.
But these experiences can also have other causes. The useful starting point is not to diagnose yourself from a symptom list, but to notice what has changed and consider whether it is worth discussing with your GP.
Perimenopause can begin before periods stop
Menopause is reached when periods have stopped for 12 months, where hormonal contraception is not affecting the picture. Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause, when hormone levels change and periods often become less predictable.
That matters because somebody can experience significant symptoms while still having periods.
For many people, a change in menstrual pattern is an important clue. But not everybody has an obvious pattern, and contraception, surgery or medical treatment can make the picture more complicated.
Mental and physical symptoms can feed into each other
It is not always possible to separate a “menopause symptom” neatly from the rest of life.
Night sweats can disturb sleep. Poor sleep can make concentration, irritability and coping harder. Palpitations or sudden physical sensations can feel frightening. Changes in confidence, relationships or working life can add another layer of stress.
This means the mental-health impact may come from several things happening together rather than one isolated symptom.
Notice the pattern rather than trying to prove the cause
A short record can help you explain what is happening.
You might note changes in periods, sleep, mood, anxiety, concentration, hot flushes or other symptoms, and how they are affecting work, relationships or ordinary tasks.
The aim is not to build a case that menopause is definitely responsible. It is to give your GP a clearer picture of the changes you have noticed.
When should I speak to my GP?
NHS advice is to contact your GP if you think you have symptoms of menopause or perimenopause and want to understand your options.
It is particularly important not to assume that every new symptom is menopause. Persistent low mood, significant anxiety, unusual bleeding, palpitations or other physical changes may need their own assessment.
If you feel that something has changed and it is affecting your life, that is enough reason to start a conversation.
Last reviewed
6 September 2026
Important menopause and mental health information
This guide provides general information only and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical or mental-health advice. Symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause can overlap with other physical and mental-health conditions, and individual experiences can be very different.
If you think you may be experiencing perimenopause or menopause, if symptoms are affecting your everyday life, or if you are unsure what is causing a change in your physical or mental health, speak to your GP or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Do not start, stop or change prescribed medication or hormone treatment based on information in this guide. Treatment decisions, including whether HRT or another treatment may be appropriate, should be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
If you or somebody else is in immediate danger or there is a life-threatening emergency, call 999 or go to A&E. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need urgent help but it is not a life-threatening emergency, contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or use your local NHS urgent mental health service.