Depression in women

It is well known that about twice as many women as men experience depression. It was noted that girls 14-18 years of age have consistently higher rates of depression than boys in the same age group. Scientists discovered several factors which are responsible for increased frequency of depression in women.

Millions of women experience depression each year. Depression is a serious medical condition that can occur in any woman – about one in every 7-8 women experience clinical depression during their lifetime. Women could have depression at any time of their life but most frequently depression is observed during reproductive period of women life – at 25-44. Depression in women does not have age limitation, race differences or social peculiarities.

National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) published interesting information about depression in women:

• One in four women will experience severe depression at some point in life;
• Depression affects twice as many women as men, regardless of racial and ethnic background or income;
• Depression is the number one cause of disability in women;
• In general, married women experience depression more than single women do, and depression is common among young mothers who stay at home full-time with small children;
• Women who are victims of sexual and physical abuse are at much greater risk of depression;
• At least 90 percent of all cases of eating disorders occur in women, and there is a strong relationship between eating disorders and depression;
• Depression can put women at risk of suicide. While more men than women die from suicide, women attempt suicide about twice as often as men do;
• Only about one-fifth of all women who suffer from depression seek treatment.

Depression affects women body, mood and thoughts. Many women described the depression as feeling sad, unhappy, miserable or down in the dumps but most women feel the same at least once during life period. Does it mean all women experience depression at least once? Answer is NO.  The real clinical illness called “depression” means a very specific mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period (weeks, months, years).

Why women suffer from depression more frequently?

Answer is not clear but there are several contributing factors which make women an easy target for depression. Women body development, reproductive functions, hormones, genetic and general biological differences are contributing to depression development. Medical professionals noted higher frequency of depression in women during premenstrual period, pregnancy, post-partum, and menopause as well as during infertility.

Several surveys also discovered some social factors which could lead to higher rates of depression in women – stress and pressure at work place and family, sexual and/or physical abuse, social pressure in many societies, difficulties in career development, poverty.

Risk factors which increase women chances for depression development:

• Hormonal factors (female hormones, menstrual cyclic cycles, hormonal changes during pregnancy, miscarriage, delivery, postpartum period, premenopause, menopause);
• Stress and stressful situations (stress at work place and in family, stressful relations, stresses during caring about children and aging parents, extended family responsibilities);
• Genetic factors (family history of depression);
• Chemical differences or imbalance or changes in the brain chemistry;
• Medical illnesses (stroke, heart attack, breast cancer and cancer of reproductive organs, Parkinson’s disease).

Depression in women life

It was noted that cyclic hormonal changes in women body could contribute to depression development but only hormonal changes cannot develop the illness called “depression”. Always medical professionals can discover other risk factors or other biological and social factors which in combination with dramatic hormonal changes could develop depression in women.

Depression during Puberty

Everybody knows that puberty girls could be very difficult in family, in school and in society and it is always explained by puberty hormonal fluctuations.

Dramatic valuable hormonal changes during puberty could increase some women’s risk of developing depression. However, temporary mood changes related to changing hormones during puberty are normal — these changes alone don’t cause depression. But in combination with several risk factors puberty girls could experience depression.

Factors which contribute to depression development in puberty:

• Discovering sexuality and experiencing sexuality;
• Body changes, body “conflicts” (small breasts, asymmetric breasts, short high, etc.);
• Several conflicts with parents, friends, family members, relatives;
• First love experiences (especially unhappy love experiences, unrequited love);
• Increasing pressure to achieve in school, sports or other areas of life

Depression during Premenstrual period

Women know very well physical and emotional changes that can occur before menstruation (during premenstrual period) including abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, headache, anxiety, irritability and mood swings. All mentioned symptoms are indicators of so called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Many women experience PMS but only a small number of women experience severe and disabling symptoms that disrupt their lives, jobs and relationships. The severe form of PMS called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) which is actually a type of depression.

Although the exact interaction between depression and premenstrual syndrome remains unclear, it’s possible that cyclical changes in estrogen, progesterone and other hormones can disrupt the function of brain chemicals such as serotonin that control mood. Inherited traits, life experiences and other factors could be contributing factors.

Depression during Pregnancy

Everybody knows about dramatic hormonal changes during pregnancy and it is clear that these changes could be a risk factor for depression. But only hormonal changes cannot develop depression.

Actually depression during wanted pregnancy is very rare but depression can develop in women during pregnancy if the following factors are contributing:

• Problematic relations and uncertain family status;
• Previous history of depression (PMDD or post-partum depression);
• Unwanted unplanned pregnancy (especially without potential father);
• Lack of family or social support;
• Symptoms of miscarriage;
• Infertility before this pregnancy.

Post-partum depression

Having a baby can be both exhilarating and exhausting and many women could feel weepy and moody. Despite of having beautiful baby and loving partner, women could cry or be unhappy. Many women after delivery could feel exhausted, unable to sleep and anxious. Sometime newly mothers could experience changed appetite (increased or decreased), could fell irritable, nervous, worried about being a good mother. All mentioned feelings known as the “baby blues” or “postpartum blues” are normal during the first couple of weeks after childbirth. But if it lasts longer, it could be post-partum depression.

Many women could be vulnerable to depression after the birth of a baby – it could happen not only because of hormonal and physical changes but also because of new additional responsibility of a new life. Depression after deliveries is not common and not normal but it could happen in some women.

Depression during menopause

Premenopause and menopause are very specific period of women life when they experience dramatic hormonal changes (mainly decrease of hormone production) and osteoporosis. The risk of depression could be increased during this transition period from premenopause to menopause, when hormone levels fluctuate erratically. The depression risk also could be increased in early menopause or after menopause (when estrogen levels are significantly reduced).

Menopause is a vulnerable period of life and menopause depression could happen more often.