Anxiety increases during the menopausal transition in women

This study analyzed data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), which enrolled 3,302 racially and ethnically diverse women aged 42-52 at baseline (1995-1997). 2,956 women with complete anxiety data who were followed annually for up to 10 visits. The study found that anxiety increases during the menopausal transition, particularly among women who had low anxiety levels at the start. A key limitation is that the analysis adjusted for hot flashes as if they were independent from menopausal phases, but these two factors are difficult to separate—hot flashes themselves are a hallmark of the transition. Additional research is needed to better understand the relationship between hot flashes and menopausal phases.