Irritability in the menopausal woman cannot be fully cured with hormones. If it is caused by hot flashes, and night sweats, hormone replacement will help. Otherwise, counseling and anti depressant medications may be needed.

Q2. My wife does not get sleep at night and feel like crying very often. Many doctors have asked her to take pills for sleeping . They say it is a psychological problem, but we have not given her any stress at home.

Crying spells and inability to sleep in the early waking hours of night are hallmarks of mental depression, caused due to reduced serotonin levels in the brain. It is not necessarily caused by stress in the house. It can be cured with medications. It may be aggravated in the menopausal woman due to fluctuations in the hormone level.

Q3. Why do women get irritable at the time of menopause.

Irritability at the time of menopause could be caused, either due to depression or due to hot flushes, which is an accompaniment of menopause.

Questions and Answers compiled by:

Dr.Shobhana Mohandas. MD.DGO.FICOG.

Consultant Gynaecologist, Elite Hospital, Thrissur, Kerala.

Email: shobhanamohandas@yahoo.co.in.