Journal of Clinical Medicine
Irritability and Hormone Replacement Therapy in Women Attending a Menopause Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Study
By Miriam Olivola, Andrea Agosta, Antonella Consonni and 10 others.
Abstract
Background
The menopausal transition is frequently associated with affective symptoms, including irritability, which remains relatively understudied despite its clinical relevance. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may influence affective symptoms through hormonal and metabolic mechanisms, including modulation of oxidative stress. However, the relationship between HRT and irritability in menopausal women remains poorly understood.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 84 women attending a menopause clinic between 2020 and 2025. Irritability was assessed using the single irritability item of the Greene Climacteric Scale. Associations between HRT use and irritability were explored using descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression, and exploratory predictive modelling controlling for age and clinical variables.