Effects of sexual hormones on perimenopausal depression

Objective To investigate the effects of sexual hormones on perimenopausal depression.Methods Serum estradiol(E2),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) were examined in 45 patients(group A) with perimenopausal depression,50 normal perimenopausal women(group B) and 50 healthy reproductive women(group C).The relationship between E2 and Hamiltom depression scale score(HAMD) was analyzed.Results Serum level of E2 was lower in group A than that in groups of B and C(P0.05).Serum level of E2 was negatively correlated with HAMD scores in group A(r=-0.89,P0.05).Serum levels of FSH and LH were elevated in groups of A and B,but which were not significantly different between groups of A and B.Conclusion Lower serum leve of E2 is closely associated with the severity of patients with perimenopausal depression.Detection of serum E2 may be useful for early diagnosis and evaluation of perimenopausal depression.