The data: More than half of women respondents said they received a mental health diagnosis from a healthcare provider since the onset of perimenopause (or the time before menopause), according to an August Biote survey. The survey queried 1,005 US women 30-60 years of age who work full or part time. For context, the average age of menopause in the US is 51.

At the onset of perimenopause:

• 33% of women were diagnosed and treated for anxiety.
• 27% were evaluated and treated for depression.
• 25% were diagnosed and treated for mood swings.
• 13% were diagnosed and treated for panic attacks.

Why it matters: Perimenopause symptoms can start as early as 10 years before menopause, but most women are not well-informed about this stage of life.

• 85% didn’t feel informed or knowledgeable about perimenopause.
• 56% would have benefited from knowing symptoms start earlier than they expected.
• 37% wished they knew perimenopause symptoms can be severe and disruptive.
• 35% didn’t realize perimenopause can affect mental health along with physical health.

Implications for healthcare providers and marketers: Perimenopause is largely absent from mainstream conversations, and many women enter the earlier stages of menopause underprepared, especially around the impacts to their mental health.

For healthcare providers, adding basic perimenopause assessments to routine visits can help distinguish perimenopause-related hormonal shifts from mental health conditions. Providers can also point their patients to vetted resources that will help them track symptoms and understand hormonal changes related to perimenopause.

For healthcare marketers, digital tools like symptom checkers, guided content, or AI-powered chat support can help women understand what they’re experiencing and spark productive conversations with their providers. As menopause continues to gain attention, brands have an opportunity to engage women earlier with credible information and relevant services tailored to the often-overlooked perimenopause stage.

This content is part of EMARKETER’s subscription Briefings, where we pair daily updates with data and analysis from forecasts and research reports. Our Briefings prepare you to start your day informed, to provide critical insights in an important meeting, and to understand the context of what’s happening in your industry. Not a subscriber? Click here to get a demo of our full platform and coverage.