---
title: Can estrogen hormones treat depression linked to the menstrual cycle?
description: Yes, transdermal estrogen can treat depression linked to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause by suppressing cyclical hormone changes. The challenge
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-guide-to-the-treatment-of-depression-in-women-by-estrogens-2011/
---

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- Can estrogen hormones treat depression linked to the menstrual cycle?

Review, 2011

# Can estrogen hormones treat depression linked to the menstrual cycle?

Yes, transdermal estrogen can treat depression linked to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause by suppressing cyclical hormone changes. The challenge is balancing multiple hormones and managing progestogen side effects.

 Moderate study design

Literature review of hormone treatment for cyclical depression

## What they did

This was a review of treating cyclical depression: premenstrual, postnatal, and menopause-related. The author discusses how to balance estrogen, testosterone, and progestogen.

## What they found

Transdermal estrogen suppresses ovulation and the cyclical hormone changes that cause premenstrual depression. It also improves mood in postnatal and menopause-related depression. Testosterone can improve mood, energy, and desire. Progestogen is often poorly tolerated and should be used at the lowest dose for the shortest duration needed.

## What it means for you

Hormone therapy can treat depression linked to menstrual cycles, but finding the right balance is complex. Women are sometimes misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder when they actually have hormone-related depression. This is a review for doctors, so it summarizes evidence rather than presenting new research.

## About the study

Original title A guide to the treatment of depression in women by estrogens Authors Studd JW Journal Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society Year 2011 Study design Review What was tested Transdermal estrogen, testosterone, and progestogen Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2011.609285](https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2011.609285)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Review, 2012

Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause?

Survey study, 2009

Can estrogen therapy help depression that worsens during hormonal cycle changes?

Survey study, 2002

What treatments work for depression linked to the menstrual cycle and PMDD?

Cohort study, 2007

Do women with depression or bipolar disorder experience premenstrual mood symptoms?

Study, 2004

Did SSRIs change what people thought of as depression in women?

Randomised trial, 2001

Do changing reproductive hormones disrupt the body's internal clock and cause mood disorders?

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