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Perimenopausal Mood Dysregulation

Meaning

Perimenopausal mood dysregulation describes the heightened incidence and severity of affective symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, depression, and emotional lability, experienced during the transitional phase leading up to menopause. This clinical presentation is directly linked to the dramatic and often unpredictable fluctuations in ovarian hormone levels, particularly estradiol and progesterone. The dysregulation is a neuroendocrine phenomenon, reflecting the brain’s sensitivity to shifting steroid hormone concentrations and their impact on neurotransmitter systems.