Study, 2015
How are hormones related to depression in women?
Depression in women is caused by hormonal changes at certain times: before periods, after birth, and around menopause. These can be effectively treated with medications or procedures that change hormone levels, especially transdermal estrogens.
What they did
The author reviews how hormonal fluctuations cause depression in women and examines treatment approaches including hormonal therapies.
What they found
Hormonal fluctuations cause depression at three key times: before periods, after birth, and around menopause. Severe premenstrual depression responds to ovulation suppression using transdermal estrogens or GnRH analogs. Transdermal estrogens also help depression after birth, especially in women with a history of premenstrual depression. Transdermal testosterone gel helps with loss of energy and loss of libido. The Mirena IUS and surgical removal of the womb and ovaries can help women who cannot tolerate progestogens.
What it means for you
Hormonal changes directly cause certain depressions in women, which means hormonal treatments may work better than standard antidepressants alone. The main limitation is that this discusses treatment approaches based on clinical experience rather than testing treatments in research studies.
About the study
- Original title
- Personal view: Hormones and depression in women
- Authors
- Studd J
- Journal
- Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Hormonal treatments including transdermal estrogens, GnRH analogs, testosterone, and surgical options
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2014.918595
Topics
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