What is a psychiatrist's opinion on women's cycles?

Is there a link between hormonal imbalances and mood disorders?

Yes, these are complex systems in constant dynamic interaction regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis which manages a large part of the hormones.

Not to mention pathological problems such as thyroid disease, early menopause, or depression, we cannot help but notice the mood swings of women of childbearing age. Women's moods and emotional sensitivity change 3 or 4 times a month.

Women often do not spontaneously make the connection between their emotional fluctuations and the menstrual cycle . I have always been surprised by the lack of spontaneous correlation between the emotional fragility of my patients and the time of their cycle.

So, anything that can help women become aware of their spontaneous and normal cyclical variations can help them manage their daily lives and those around them.

Should we endure these emotional fluctuations?

As women's moods change, we could note that they are more sensitive, more emotional, more nervous... especially in the 4th week of the cycle.

Being aware of this period of sensitivity allows them to avoid suffering from their own fragilities. In addition, some women may use this period to mentalize or even verbalize the most salient elements in a different way.

Regardless of cycles, are there times in women's lives when they may be more fragile?

Another phenomenon is more specific to women between 40 and 50 years old.

Observation shows that many women reach a milestone during these years, particularly by noting the natural evolution of their bodies. From then on, this phenomenon leads to a kind of emotional surge, accompanied by doubts about their feminine future. This doubt creates fragility that can lead them to adopt new attitudes in terms of sport, clothing, and aesthetics. They also begin to refocus more on the evolution of their silhouette, their face, and their femininity in general.

Any other special moments?

There are particular moments that are often overlooked and have more unspoken consequences than those found during therapy.
Thus, abortions performed especially after 25 years can leave a scar that is often neglected, there are also postpartum psychiatric syndromes that justify appropriate and continued medical treatment. I would, however, mention passages that do not fall under pathology such as, for example, the possible drop in libido following a third birth, especially when this last pregnancy was not as desired by both partners. These are problems that I have often encountered in my professional practice.

More generally, the passage of forty and a fortiori of menopause can resonate, often unconsciously, with the unverbalized, little mentalized events of previous sexual life or even maternal references.

These periods can sometimes constitute moments of stumbling where all the traces of previous scars linked to the abortion, post-partum syndromes, etc. are expressed consciously or unconsciously.

What about menopause?

The end of fertility is most often experienced in a solitary, discreet way and as a loss in the analytical sense of the term.

In family life, maternal menopause often coincides with the children's empowerment. The children's departure occupies the problematic family space and allows the woman to silence her inner unhappiness.

However, it is important to verbalize the discomfort in order to live well and accept the menopause and take advantage of this moment in life as a new opportunity for recovery and creativity, because it is also a moment which coincides with more freedom of speech and action for women!

Thanks to Dr. JC. O, psychiatrist, couples and family therapist, who practices in Paris .

Food supplement adapted to female cycles, specially developed to support women during their hormonal variations ( premenstrual syndrome , perimenopause, etc.) leading to emotional and physical imbalances (fatigue, mental fog), preserve their hormonal balance and strengthen our metabolism against oxidative stress and inflammation .

À propos de l'auteur

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Caroline Lanson

Co-founder and product manager

Caroline LANSON, co-founder of the Miyé brand, is passionate about plants and well-being: she has over 20 years of experience in developing skincare and food supplements in various laboratories and has also trained in naturopathy.