Perimenopause linked to 59% higher odds of anxiety symptoms: UCL review

Women going through perimenopause, the years of transition before periods stop for good, were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety than women who had not yet reached that stage, according to a review of research by scientists at University College London (UCL), reported on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The team pooled findings from 21 published studies covering 24,523 women and found that perimenopausal women had 59% higher odds of reporting anxiety symptoms than premenopausal women. The review was published in the journal Scientific Reports. The authors say it shows a link, not that the menopausal transition causes anxiety.

Menopause is often discussed in terms of hot flushes and night sweats, but many women also describe changes in mood, sleep and worry in the years leading up to it. This review adds weight to what women report: across thousands of participants in different studies, anxiety symptoms were more commonly reported during perimenopause than before it.

The finding matters for how women and doctors read these symptoms. For many women, perimenopause comes at a stage of life that can coincide with demanding careers, children at home and ageing parents. Anxiety at this time can easily be put down to stress alone. The review suggests that the menopausal transition is worth considering too, so that women can get the right support.

It is important to read the numbers correctly. "Odds" is a statistical measure of how likely something is to be reported in one group compared with another. A 59% higher odds does not mean that 59% of perimenopausal women have anxiety. It means that, compared with premenopausal women, they were more likely to report anxiety symptoms in the studies reviewed.

The study also has limits, which the authors state. A meta-analysis is only as good as the studies it combines, and these studies measured anxiety in different ways and in different countries. The design can show an association, not a cause. Explanations such as changes in the hormone oestrogen have been put forward by others, but the review itself does not prove a mechanism. Most of the research it draws on comes from outside India, so its results may not apply in the same way to Indian women.

Short-term: The review gives women and their doctors a clearer reason to ask about anxiety, not only physical symptoms, during the menopausal transition. It does not change any treatment guidance on its own.

Long-term: Further research, including studies that follow the same women over time, could help show whether the transition causes anxiety and which women are most at risk. Workplaces that are adding menopause support may also take mental health into account.

Who is affected: Women approaching or going through menopause, their families and partners, doctors and gynaecologists, mental health professionals, and employers building menopause policies.

This story is for information only and is not medical advice. Anyone with persistent anxiety should speak to a doctor. If you or someone you know needs help, call Tele-MANAS on 14416.

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