How Women’s Hormones Affect Depression
Have you noticed your mood plummeting around your period? If you’re going through menopause, have you felt persistently low? Did you notice a huge shift in your mood during pregnancy or after childbirth? Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate many of our body’s processes and emotions. For women, hormones play crucial roles in puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. The fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone, the hormones responsible for a woman’s reproductive cycle, can impact (or even cause) a person’s depression. While changes in hormone levels are completely normal and necessary, it’s important to recognize when you’re more prone to depression so you can manage your symptoms.
How Estrogen Affects Depression
Estrogen is a hormone that’s produced in the ovaries and is responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that estrogen levels affect serotonin levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. When estrogen levels are low, the levels of serotonin in the brain also decrease, which can lead to depression.
For women who experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS), this monthly depressed mood can be very noticeable. PMS is characterized by mood swings, irritability, and anxiety in the days leading up to menstruation. During this time, estrogen levels are low, which can cause a decrease in serotonin levels, leading to mood disturbances.
Similarly, women who experience perimenopause or menopause, when estrogen levels decrease, may also experience depression. This is because estrogen helps regulate the levels of other neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine and norepinephrine, which are associated with mood regulation. When estrogen levels decrease, the levels of these neurotransmitters also decrease, which can trigger a depressive episode.
How Progesterone Affects Depression
Progesterone is a hormone that’s also produced in the ovaries and helps prepare the uterus for pregnancy. Like estrogen, progesterone also affects the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, including GABA, which is associated with calming effects. When progesterone levels are low, women may feel anxious, irritable, and depressed.
Women who experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS, may experience significant mood disturbances due to changes in progesterone levels. During PMDD, progesterone levels decrease, which can lead to an increase in anxiety and depression symptoms.
Depression, Pregnancy, and Childbirth
Pregnancy and childbirth also cause significant hormonal changes that can affect women’s moods. During pregnancy, the levels of estrogen and progesterone increase significantly, which can cause changes in mood. While some women experience a “pregnancy glow,” many others may experience unpleasant mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
Postpartum depression (PPD) is also a common condition that affects women after childbirth. It’s thought to be caused by a sudden decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels after delivery. Studies have shown that women with a history of depression or a genetic predisposition to mental illness may be at a higher risk of developing PPD.
How to Cope with Hormonal Fluctuations
Stay active – Get plenty of exercise in whatever way feels best for you. Physical activity helps relieve stress and keeps your endorphin levels up.
Eat a balanced diet – Be sure to eat unprocessed fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Healthy foods have been shown to ease depressive symptoms.
Discuss with medical professionals – Talk to a doctor if you feel like you’re not yourself and can’t chalk it up to normal hormonal changes. They can help determine if you’re having hormonal dysregulation and can discuss medical treatment options with you. If you’re persistently feeling depressed, you may also want to consider talking to a therapist. Discussing your mood and thought patterns in therapy can help ease your depressive symptoms and help you cope with your emotions in a positive way.
To find out more about how therapy can help women with depression, please reach out to us.
