Is There A Connection Between Schizophrenia And Menopause? It somehow appears a bit unfair that women have to bear a lot of physical and hormonal changes within their body over a lifetime and men don’t “seem” to go through nearly as much as we do in comparison to our health.
Oh, Eve why did you sin in the Garden of Eden?! Women have periods, cramps, hormonal issues, and our stomachs, and hips expand and shrink to bear children, and then we get hit with a big whammy- MENOPAUSE! Why?!
Hot flashes, low estrogen, low sex drive, sleepless nights, and schizophrenia symptoms seem to be a recipe for disaster for women of a particular age. But don’t fret, living with menopause and schizophrenia can be challenging for anyone. But menopausal schizophrenia is more common than you may think.
Although both conditions can be difficult, each can be managed properly so that you can live a fulfilling life under the guidance of your physician.
What exactly is menopause? Menopause occurs when your menstruation cycle permanently ends which happens after 12 menstrual cycles are missed. The menopausal transition is usually followed by menstrual irregularities, decreased fertility, vasomotor symptoms, and insomnia.
During this time, research estimates that 20% of women experience depression or psychiatric problems during this transition. Menopause comes in like a wrecking ball, affecting your hormones, your mood, and your sex life by causing dryness in the vagina.
Let’s not forget, even life stressors can also heighten the rate of depression and menopause if you lack social support, have poor overall health, are unemployed, or have a preexisting tendency towards depression.
Many case studies show that schizophrenia occurs in 1% of the population and is split evenly among men and women. Some women are diagnosed with schizophrenia in their mid to late forties and the menopausal transition usually takes place during the same time.