Lexapro for Women’s Health: PMS/PMDD, Anxiety & Menopause

The Vagina Doctor Podcast w/ Duncan Turner M.D. · May 14, 2026 · 2m

Nurse Practitioner Sophie Mengele at TMA discusses Lexapro (escitalopram) for women’s health, explaining it as an SSRI that increases serotonin to help stabilize mood and reduce anxiety. She describes using Lexapro for younger patients and for premenopausal/menopausal patients, either continuously through the menstrual cycle or only during the luteal phase (after ovulation, about 12–14 days before a period) for recurring premenstrual symptoms like mood fluctuations, anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness. She notes standard dosing is 10–20 mg but often starts at 5 mg to see if a lower dose…