Female Hormone Imbalances & Depression

Did you know that women are more than twice as likely to experience depression than men? Evidence suggests that this increased likelihood may be caused by imbalances of female sex hormones such as estradiol, the most potent of the body's estrogen hormones, and progesterone, another important female sex hormone. That's one reason why changes in mood and behavior often occur in women during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, when levels of these hormones fluctuate.

How do female hormone imbalances trigger psychological problems? Researchers at the National Institute of Health have discovered that, in women, the body's stress response is influenced by the secretion of estradiol and progesterone. Hormone imbalances can throw this response "out-of-whack" and trigger many types of mood disorders, including depression, eating disorders, anxiety, lethargy and insomnia.

Optimal amounts of estradiol and progesterone are important for maintaining proper emotional balance in women. One of the most common findings in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), characterized by decreased energy, tension, irritability and depression, is higher amounts of progesterone relative to lower amounts of estradiol.

Menopause is a critical time of life for many women. It is not uncommon to experience increased mood disruptions and depression as the production of female sex hormone levels drops sharply. Also, many women are not aware that their natural levels of testosterone — the "male" sex hormone — also decline during this time, lowering sex drive and sense of emotional wellness. Numerous studies have shown that by ensuring optimum estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone levels, postmenopausal women can significantly reduce anxiety and depression, improve sleep patterns, cognitive function, libido and overall sense of well-being.

At the same time, it's important that the body doesn't get "too much of a good thing." Excess levels of estradiol can trigger irritability and aggressiveness, some investigators have observed. So measuring your levels can help identify the cause of some of these symptoms. Postmenopausal women achieve the greatest improvements in emotional health, research shows, when hormonal balance is carefully monitored.

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References:

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