Menopausal women should not be given HRT to treat depression, guidance says as prescriptions soar

According to historical guidelines, postmenopausal women should not be prescribed HRT for depression.

A growing number of women are turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to ease the painful symptoms of menopause.

Recent figures show that the number of HRT prescriptions has soared over the past year, with a 47 percent increase compared to 2021/2022.

But in a new menopause ‘toolkit’, experts say clinical depression is not a condition that should simply be treated with hormones as a cure.

Recent figures show that the number of HRT prescriptions has soared over the past year, by 47 percent compared to 2021/22 (stock photo)

The guideline, endorsed by the British Menopause Society and designed to be implemented globally, states that studies have shown that ‘estrogen therapy has no benefit on depressive symptoms… compared to placebo’.

Although the drug is recommended to relieve physical symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, experts say clinical depression should be managed “on its own.”

They added that women should consult their GP if they have troubling mental health issues – but doctors should not assume that depression in women of a certain age is caused by menopause.

Professor Susan Davis, from Monash University in Australia, led the development of the toolkit, which was presented in the journal Climacteric.

She said: ‘Menopause can cause symptoms such as low mood, anxiety, irritability and mood swings, but clinical depression needs to be assessed and managed on its own.

‘Menopause may worsen underlying depression, but it should not be assumed to be the cause of clinical depression.’

Professor Davis added: ‘Low mood and anxiety or mood swings are common during menopause and most improve with oestrogen, so these are indications for menopausal hormone therapy.

Although the drug is recommended to relieve physical symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, experts say clinical depression should be managed ‘on its own’ (stock photo)

HRT helps regulate falling estrogen levels and has been praised by the likes of Davina McCall (pictured)

‘But clinical depression is not a condition that should simply be treated as a drug with hormones.

“We’re trying to make this clear so that women with clinical depression are treated appropriately.”

The document, which replaces previous guidelines released almost a decade ago, also suggests that HRT does not improve learning, thinking or memory.

HRT helps regulate falling estrogen levels and has been praised by the likes of Davina McCall.

A separate study published yesterday also found that menopause can impair certain aspects of memory.

Researchers found that the brain areas active during the formation and retrieval of certain memories were different in women before and after menopause.