5 Mental Symptoms of Menopause & Andropause

Searching for a word that’s on the tip of your tongue or forgetting why you came into the kitchen—we’ve all been there. And it’s not unusual to “wake up on the wrong side of the bed” once in a while. For women and men in the midst of menopause and andropause, however, the lack of focus and emotional roller-coasters can affect the quality of their lives and they can benefit from hormone replacement therapy at our clinics in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas.

Memory loss and mood changes are among the common symptoms of menopause (women) and andropause (men), in addition to fatigue, sexual dysfunction, reduced strength, sleeplessness, and other conditions. Knowing what to expect and how to recognize the signs of hormone-related brain fog and mood swings can help people cope successfully with these changes. That can include lifestyle changes, in addition to consulting with a hormone doctor about HRT. Hormone replacement therapy that’s customized for a specific patient helps minimize these symptoms and offers an alternative to medications.

It’s Not All in Your Head

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms listed here and there can be additional symptoms associated with menopause and andropause that women and men encounter.

1. Mood swings: Women going through perimenopause and menopause have hormonal changes that include a sharp decline in estrogen levels. Estrogen, in addition to affecting a women’s sexual function, plays an important role in promoting feelings of well-being and happiness because it’s associated with the production of serotonin. Serotonin is the primary hormone that helps balance our moods. Moodiness also affects men going through andropause which is also caused by hormonal changes.
2. Difficulty focusing: An inability to concentrate on work or other tasks often takes people by surprise because it’s something they’ve never experienced before. Men with low testosterone levels (low T) as they navigate andropause may notice this symptom during its early stages. Because balanced estrogen and progesterone levels are crucial for proper brain functioning, women may experience this lack of mental clarity during menopause, too.
3. Forgetfulness: Many people have trouble keeping track of passwords or trying to remember a certain word, but missing appointments or having trouble remembering the month or year could be a sign of menopause or andropause.
4. Feeling depressed: Men and women experiencing other signs of andropause and menopause, such as weight gain, insomnia, or low libido, may also begin feeling depressed. Research shows that hormonal changes in both men and women can cause depression. For many people, hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment. But if you’re suffering from more severe depression, other medications may be the most effective treatment path.
5. Clumsiness: If you find yourself dropping things, bumping into furniture, or feeling less sure-footed than you’re used to, it could be related to hormonal changes. Poor sleep quality, which is also associated with menopause and andropause, can exacerbate clumsiness and all the other problems referenced above.

If you’ve been looking for a bioidentical hormone replacement therapy specialist in Baton Rouge or New Orleans, contact us using the online form to request a consultation. Or call us at (225) 960-1580.