I've been amazed at how much better I've been as I go through menopause. It began early for me (34) and I had a lot of issues that eventually required a hysterectomy at 36. They said menopause should end within 5 years due to diminished blood supply to the ovaries.

I've reached the point where I almost never have a hot flash. In fact the other day I had the first in probably 6 months. So in theory that means my hormone levels are dropping.

Granted this nasty episode since I've been on here doesn't look like it but I truly have done better with less hormones.

Conversely I did worse with hormones. I had a Mirena IUD placed to try to reduce heavy bleeding. From the time it went in until the day we pulled in 9 months later just to see if it was causing my problems I was extremely suicidal and depressed. When it came out I felt better within 3 days. After that happened my psychiatrist and gyn started watching and found several other bipolar women not doing well on the Mirena, tiny hormone dose and all.

So I believe hormones have a HUGE effect on bipolar, one I didn't realize until mine started going crazy when menopause started when I was 34 (since I was so young I had to track it for months which made the relationship stand out even more).