Hormones and Women’s Mental Health: What the New HEAL-Women Study in Lithuania Will Reveal

Over the years of creating products and speaking with women, I've come to realize one important thing: we often blame ourselves for symptoms that are actually driven by hormonal changes. Too often, we lack the right information—and sometimes, even understanding from those around us.

That's why the new Vilnius University study, HEAL-Women: Hormonal Changes and Women's Mental Health, feels especially important. It aims to explain why many women experience significant emotional, psychological, and physical changes before their period or during perimenopause and menopause, and how these changes affect both their own lives and the people around them.

Gentle Day is supporting this project through funding and awareness because we see how limited this knowledge still is—not only among women themselves but also among healthcare professionals.

To better understand the study, why it matters, and how it may improve women's health, we spoke with the study's lead researcher, neuroscientist Professor Ramunė Grikšienė.

Who Are You and What Does Your Research Group Study?

I'm Ramunė Grikšienė, a neuroscientist and professor at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University.

For nearly 20 years, I've studied how hormones—especially sex hormones—affect brain function. Our Hormones and Brain Function Research Group investigates how the brain responds during different hormonal states, including the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception, perimenopause, menopause, and varying testosterone and cortisol levels in men.

We measure changes in brain activity, emotional responses, cognitive performance, and how women feel and evaluate themselves at different hormone levels.

Stress is another major focus of our research. We study how stress responses interact with hormones and collaborate closely with gynecologists, psychologists, and researchers both in Lithuania and internationally.

What Makes the HEAL-Women Study Unique?

The HEAL-Women study is being conducted at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University together with partners in Lithuania and abroad, including Erasmus University in the Netherlands.

The project will run from 2025 to 2029, combining laboratory research, data analysis, and scientific publications while also making findings accessible to the public.

Why Is This Research So Important?

Women's mental health is closely connected to hormonal changes throughout life. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other mood disorders often appear or worsen during adolescence, the premenstrual phase, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause.

Many women—and even healthcare professionals—do not immediately connect these symptoms with hormonal fluctuations. As a result, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed.

The study focuses on two groups:

• Young women experiencing moderate PMS or severe Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).
• Women experiencing perimenopause or menopause symptoms.

The goal is to develop personalized, evidence-based strategies that improve women's mental health and overall quality of life while increasing public awareness.

How Will the Study Be Conducted?

Each research group will include approximately 100 participants. Women will complete questionnaires and undergo laboratory assessments of brain activity at rest and during specific tasks.

Depending on the participant group, interventions may include:

• Psychoeducation covering nutrition, sleep, supplementation, mindfulness, and lifestyle.
• Hormone therapy for eligible women experiencing perimenopause or menopause.
• Group psychological training focused on practical coping strategies.
• Individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for women with the most severe symptoms.

Participants will return for follow-up assessments to evaluate changes in symptoms and brain activity.

How Could This Research Improve Women's Health?

The researchers hope to strengthen the scientific evidence supporting better diagnosis and treatment of hormone-related mental health symptoms.

The study also aims to improve participants' quality of life while increasing public awareness of the relationship between hormones and emotional well-being.

Open conversations about women's health can reduce stigma, encourage empathy, and help more women seek appropriate support.

Is Similar Research Happening Around the World?

Yes. Although women's hormonal health was historically under-researched, studies are now expanding across Europe, North America, and Australia.

Researchers are investigating biomarkers, gut microbiota, childhood trauma, and many other factors that influence women's health throughout life.

What Previous Findings Have Been Most Surprising?

Years of research have shown that hormonal changes can significantly affect emotional well-being, although each woman responds differently.

Research also suggests that hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) may have broader effects than previously thought, influencing not only reproductive health but also behavior and brain activity.

Another ongoing project shows that self-confidence, anxiety, emotional recognition, and body perception naturally fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle alongside hormonal changes.

More Than Research

The HEAL-Women study represents more than scientific research. It is an important step toward a future where hormonal changes are better understood rather than ignored.

Through Gentle Day, we see every day how many women search for answers about changing emotions, energy levels, and overall well-being. Supporting this research is a natural extension of our mission to empower women through education and evidence-based care.

The more openly we talk about hormones and mental health, the sooner guilt can be replaced with understanding, empathy, and support. Health is not only about the body—it is also about our thoughts, emotions, and self-acceptance.