@Article{Bachkangi2026,
journal="Menopause Review/Przegląd Menopauzalny",
issn="1643-8876",
volume="25",
number="1",
year="2026",
title="Menopause and mental health: clinical evidence and public discourse",
abstract="  The global  discourse surrounding menopause has undergone a seismic shift,  transitioning from clinical silence to a hyper-visible cultural  phenomenon. However, this menopausal turn has introduced  a significant paradox: while visibility reduces stigma, it frequently  replaces clinical nuance with market-driven, reductive narratives. This paper  provides a comprehensive bio-psycho-social synthesis of the menopause  transition, bridging the gap between emerging neurobiological evidence and  contemporary public discourse. We examine the neuroendocrine basis of  perimenopausal mood changes, illustrating how fluctuating ovarian steroids –  specifically oestradiol and progesterone – modulate serotonergic, dopaminergic,  and GABAergic systems to create a window of psychiatric vulnerability.  Challenging the oestrogen deficiency monocausal model, we integrate  epidemiological data from major longitudinal cohorts, such as the Study of  Women’s Health Across the Nation, to highlight the domino effect of  vasomotor symptoms, sleep fragmentation, and pre-existing psychosocial  stressors. A critical focus is placed on the diagnostic attribution bias  prevalent across medical specialties. We argue that primary care and psychiatry  often operate through divergent disciplinary lenses, leading to the  misattribution of symptoms and fragmented care pathways. Furthermore, we  critique the commercialisation of the wellness industry, which  often leverages femvertising to promote non-clinical solutions that  mask complex neurobiological realities. Ultimately, this paper advocates for  a nuanced, interdisciplinary framework. By reconciling physiological  evidence with the lived sociocultural experience, healthcare providers can move  beyond superficial public narratives to deliver individualized, evidence-based  care that addresses the holistic mental and physical wellbeing of women  navigating this profound midlife transition.  ",
author="Bachkangi, Panayoti",
pages="36--44",
doi="10.5114/pm.2026.162164",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/pm.2026.162164"
}