Why we’ve chosen to integrate Meno-D into our UMA40 symptom tracker

The impact of peri-/menopause on the brain is often forgotten. Oestrogen receptors exist in brain areas and play key roles in mood, memory, and mental well-being. When oestrogen levels fluctuate and decline, a range of mood and cognitive symptoms can be experienced. In fact, cognitive symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating can sometimes appear long before any physical signs of menopause. 

Tracking individual symptoms does little to help women understand the true impact menopause may be having on their bodies and lives. The ability to analyse the whole picture is crucial to better health outcomes for women.

Many women experience increased anxiety, low mood, or even depression during peri-/menopause, but these symptoms are often overlooked or dismissed – often, a first port of call is to subscribe SSRIs or anti-anxiety medications due to many doctors automatically diagnosing clinical depression. In many cases, this could only be a band-aid solution and not treating the root cause, which could actually be hormonally related. 

That’s where the Meno-D comes in. The first of its kind tool, developed by Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM and validated through Monash University, helps assess depression and mental wellbeing during peri-/menopause, ensuring mental health concerns aren’t ignored. By measuring key symptoms linked to hormonal changes, the Meno-D score gives women and their doctors a clearer picture of what’s happening, so they can take action, get the right support, and feel like themselves again.

Metluma has chosen to integrate Meno-D into the UMA40 to give a comprehensive and holistic view of symptom load.

Citation: Kulkarni J, Gavrilidis E, Hudaib AR, Bleeker C, Worsley R, Gurvich C. Development and validation of a new rating scale for perimenopausal depression-the Meno-D. Transl Psychiatry. 2018 Jun 28;8(1):123. doi: 10.1038/s41398-018-0172-0. PMID: 29955034; PMCID: PMC6023883.