Menopausal women should not be given HRT to treat depression, guidelines say, as prescriptions skyrocket

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

More and more women are turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to ease the painful symptoms of menopause.

Latest figures show that the number of HRT prescriptions has soared in the past year, with a 47 per cent increase compared to 2021/2022.

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

The guideline, supported by the British Menopause Society and designed for global implementation, states that studies have shown “estrogen therapy has no benefit compared with placebo for depressive symptoms”.

Although the drug is recommended to relieve physical symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, experts believe that clinical depression should be treated “alone”.

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

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

She said: “Menopause can cause symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability and mood swings, but clinical depression should be assessed and treated alone.”

“Menopause can 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 usually improve with oestrogen. These are therefore indications for hormone therapy during menopause.”

Although the drug is recommended to relieve physical symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, experts believe that clinical depression should be treated ‘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 to be treated simply like a drug with hormones.”

“We are trying to clarify this so that women with clinical depression receive appropriate treatment.”

The document, which replaces previous guidelines published nearly 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 affect certain aspects of memory.

Researchers have found that the areas of the brain that are active during the formation and retrieval of certain memories differ in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.