Depression Is More Common In Women Than Men

Did you know that a woman is more likely to have depression than a man? Researchers are studying many different things that would tell them why a woman and depression symptoms are more common. Areas that are being studied are genetic and biological factors, abuse and oppression, reproductive and hormonal factors, psychological and personality characteristics of women, interpersonal factors and more. However, the reasons why a woman and depression symptoms are more common is still unclear. One area that is being thoroughly studied is postpartum depression. Postpartum depression only affects a woman and depression can be intense.

The biological factors which can trigger a woman and depression symptoms include puberty, premenstrual problems and pregnancy. Boys and girls have virtually the same rate of depression diagnosis before puberty. Girls will usually enter puberty sooner than boys and studies report that girls may develop depression earlier than boys. Girls are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression as boys. Studies tell us that the gap between depression diagnosis between women and men close back up after menopause, researchers are leaning to the hormonal factor being a cause of woman and depression.

Premenstrual problems may also be to blame for some depressions in women. Many women report mood swings during their premenstrual cycles. Women who have more than the short lived premenstrual symptoms are often diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and often placed on hormones and antidepressants. Many people believe that the hormonal changes that are going on inside a woman’s body during her cycle are disrupting the brain’s chemicals. However, since all women who are menstruating go through hormonal changes during their cycle, hormonal changes alone cannot be responsible for the depression.

Pregnancy is another life stage where depression can strike a woman. The body is undergoing dramatic changes in hormone production during pregnancy. In addition, women who are pregnant also have to face the emotional issues of becoming a parent. Both of these factors can cause trigger depression in women. In regards to hormonal changes, a woman’s body increases production of estrogen and progesterone significantly during pregnancy. After the baby is delivered, these hormones drop off rapidly. Many people believe that when this happens it can trigger postpartum depression.

Symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to other forms of depression. In addition, the new mother may feel especially tired after delivery and never regain her strength and energy levels. The new mother may also become very overwhelmed with caring for her new baby. She may feel inadequate and doubt her mothering ability. New mothers may start to lose their own identity after the birth of a child. They may feel they have no control over their lives – from their sleep patterns, to their weight, when they have sex and more. 

Postpartum depression can occur at anytime within a year of delivery. While many women will go through a period of having the “baby blues,” women who are suffering from postpartum depression do not snap out of it easily. The depression starts to affect their ability to function well. It is very important that a woman suffering from postpartum depression seeks out the help of a doctor who is familiar with postpartum depression. In addition, women who are dealing with postpartum depression can benefit from support groups, counseling and medication.