---
title: Do women with postpartum depression have different symptoms than women with other depression?
description: Yes. Women with postpartum depression were more likely to report loss of sexual interest and mood changes before their period compared to women with other typ
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/loss-of-sexual-interest-and-premenstrual-mood-change-in-women-with-postpartum-2016/
---

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- Do women with postpartum depression have different symptoms than women with other depression?

Survey study, 2016

# Do women with postpartum depression have different symptoms than women with other depression?

Yes. Women with postpartum depression were more likely to report loss of sexual interest and mood changes before their period compared to women with other types of depression.

 Moderate study design

18,807 Korean adults; 95 with postpartum depression

## What they did

Face-to-face survey of 18,807 randomly selected Korean adults with an 80.2% response rate. Researchers used a diagnostic interview to identify postpartum depression (defined as major depression starting within 4 weeks after delivery) and compared it to other depression. Of the 679 women with major depression, 95 had postpartum depression.

## What they found

Women with postpartum depression were significantly more likely to report loss of sexual interest (AOR=1.91, 95% CI 1.01-3.60) compared to non-postpartum depression. Loss of sexual interest was also associated with lifetime postpartum depression (AOR=1.93, 95% CI 1.12-3.31). Premenstrual mood change was significantly associated with postpartum depression (p=0.0036). Women with postpartum depression were less likely to report loss of confidence or loss of pleasure.

## What it means for you

Loss of sexual interest and premenstrual mood changes may be specific features of postpartum depression compared to other depression, possibly related to hormonal changes. However, only 95 of the 18,807 participants had postpartum depression, which is a small proportion. The study was conducted in Korea, so results may differ in other populations.

18,807

adults surveyed

95

with postpartum depression

1.91

odds ratio for loss of sexual interest

## About the study

Original title Loss of sexual interest and premenstrual mood change in women with postpartum versus non-postpartum depression: A nationwide community sample of Korean adults Authors Kim K, Hong JP, Cho MJ et al. Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 2016 Study design Survey study Participants 95 What was tested None; observational community survey Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.11.050](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.11.050)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

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

## Related studies

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