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Womens Reproductive Conditions and Depression
Women are twice as likely to experience bouts of major
depression and
dysthymia (chronic depression) as men. There are no certain reasons for this
difference in depression rates between men and women, but research does show
that women have certain medical conditions that are specific to them that may
contribute to their higher rate of depression.
A woman's monthly reproductive cycle and its symptoms brought about by
hormonal changes along with other disorders of the reproductive organs can lead
to depression and its symptoms.
The monthly menstrual cycle brings physical and behavioral changes to many women
that are related to the fluctuation of the many hormones that regulate the
reproductive cycle. Called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), for many women these
hormonal changes can bring about wide mood swings including depression and
irritability. While medical researchers are not completely sure of the cause of
PMS they are studying the way the cyclical change in a woman's hormones affects
the brains chemistry. It is believed that these hormonal changes are responsible
for many of the depressive symptoms women experience.
Endometriosis is a disease specific to women that if left untreated can lead to
depression. Endometriosis strikes 10% to 20% of American women during their
child bearing years and occurs when the endometrial tissue that is usually found
in the uterus grows outside the uterus on the internal organs in the abdomen.
Endometriosis includes a whole list of symptoms including pelvic tenderness and
pain, chronic fatigue, heavy periods, infertility, digestive tract problems and
pain, and miscarriages.
Women with endometriosis are highly susceptible to depression because of the
constant pain and discomfort this disease brings. Finding a treatment that works
can be time consuming and frustrating and many times the treatment itself can
cause depression.
Menopause is another uniquely female condition that can lead to depression. As
women approach midlife the signs of menopause begin to appear. A woman’s
menstrual cycle begins to change and become unpredictable signifying changes in
hormone levels that can cause mood swings, hot flashes and memory loss. Women
going through menopause begin to feel that they are loosing control of their
bodies and their life which can be a precursor to depression.
Postpartum depression is another form of depression specific to women. It occurs
after a woman gives birth and her hormone levels return to their
pre-pregnancy levels. This drop in hormone levels affects a woman's mood much
like the hormone changes during her monthly menstrual cycle. For some women this
change in hormones along with the responsibility of a new baby can be difficult
to deal with.
It should be noted that many women do not become depressed because of these
reproductive events and live rather normal lives. Research has shown that those
women most susceptible to depression from these reproductive centered conditions
have had episodes of depression previously and are more likely to suffer from
depression than women who do not have a past history of depression. It is
important that you talk to your doctor if you feel you are experiencing any
depression symptoms related to any of these conditions. They can provide
medication and recommendations to help you cope.
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