by KYW’s medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

Perimenopause is the period of time before menopause. According a study looking at women in this phase of life—usually between the ages of 35 and 47, there can be a fourfold increase in symptoms of depression.

In most cases, we’re not talking about serious depression that is life altering. It is more of a subjective sense of feeling down. The authors of the study tried to look at other causes and they believe it has to do with changes in the levels of the hormone lh and fsh — luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone.

The researchers are looking at medications that can be used to relieve the depression and their particular role in women going through menopause. Information like this is very important because women often feel isolated at this time and are left to work out frustrating problems like this.