Hormone Replacement Therapy And Depression

Clinical Study On Hormone Replacement Therapy & Menopausal Depression

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry2 conducted by Susan Girdler, professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill HRT was shown to reduce the risk of menopause during depression.

That study recruited 172 women between the ages of 45 and 60 who were either perimenopausal or recently postmenopausal at the start of the study. One group of women was given an inactive placebo patch to wear, while the other group were given skin patches that delivered 0.1 milligrams/day of estrogen.

After receiving hormone replacement therapy for a year, 32% of perimenopausal women treated with a placebo experienced clinically significant depressive symptoms. However, the women in the study treated with hormone replacement therapy experienced half that rate of serious symptoms of depression .

Researchers also found that there were two main factors that predicted whether women would experience fewer depression symptoms while on hormone replacement therapy: being in perimenopause and experiencing a significant stress in life, such as the death of a loved one or a divorce.

Hormone Therapy For Reproductive Depression In Women

• Handbook of Mind-Body Medicine for Primary Care2003
• The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology2017
• The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender2017
• Nicole M. Else-Quest and more…Encyclopedia of Human Development
• Ada Sue Hinshaw and more…Handbook of Clinical Nursing Research1999
• Pamela C. Regan and more…Lust: What we Know about Human Sexual Desire1999

Hormone Therapy May Aid Menopausal Depression

HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 10, 2018 — A year of hormone therapy cut the risk of depression symptoms in women going through menopause and early postmenopause, new research shows.

“Thirty-two percent of women randomized to treatment with a placebo experienced clinically significant depressive symptoms. But for women randomized to hormone therapy, the risk was cut nearly in half, to 17 percent,” said co-principal investigator Susan Girdler. She’s a professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Girdler added there were two main factors that predicted whether or not women would experience fewer depression symptoms while on hormone therapy. One factor was being in perimenopause and the other was experiencing significant life stress, such as losing a loved one or divorce.

Surprisingly, for women with a past history of major depression — which is a known risk factor for future depression — hormone therapy didn’t appear to lessen the risk of depressive symptoms.

Girdler said normally women going through menopause have a twofold to fourfold higher risk of depression symptoms. There are a number of theories as to why that is, including recent life stress and the idea that some women may be more vulnerable to wildly fluctuating hormones, she explained.

Half of the women were aged 51 or older. Seventy-six percent of the women were white, and 19 percent were black. The mean household income was between $50,000 and $80,000.

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Everything To Know About Hormone Replacement Therapy

As you age, you will notice that you are no longer as fast or as strong. Sometimes, you will have the tendency to forget more things than usual. Youre always fragile and achy, and daily tasks appear to be increasingly challenging. Worse, it has a detrimental impact on your career, family, hunger, fitness, and sexual life, leaving you depressed.

The truth is, all of this exhaustion can be related to your natural hormones. Hormones regulate digestion, immunity, mood, vigor, and desire. However, even minor changes in hormone levels can have an effect on your health, well-being, and vigor.

Thankfully, we have hormone replacement therapy as a viable solution to reversing hormonal imbalances. For women, specifically, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy alleviates menopausal and aging symptoms. Testosterone injections improve mood, libido, and red blood cell formation without causing any harmful side effects.

Read on to learn more about HRT and BHRT, its risks and advantages, and whether hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

How Perimenopause Can Change Your Mood

Rachel knows shes getting close to perimenopause. She was expecting the hot flashes and mood swings. What she wasnt expecting was that constant down feeling. Shes lost interest in a lot of the things she used to enjoy. If shes being honest, shes having a hard time getting excited about much of anything. She used to have big plans for what she was going to do when the kids were older. Now, shes feeling like theres something wrong with her. The trouble is, she has no idea whats going on.

Rachel isnt alone. Many women experience changed emotions and mood swings during perimenopause. Depression risk also increases during this time. Women who had depression at other points in their lives may be at higher risk for depression during perimenopause. Was your depression related to hormones? It may make your risk even higher.

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How Do Hormones Impact Mental Health

When hormonal imbalances occur for any reason, your general outlook might shift. You also might begin experiencing mental health-related feelings of anxiety, sadness, depression, or stress.

Hormonal imbalance is believed to potentially contribute to several mental health conditions, including anxiety, chronic stress, depression, irritability, insomnia, mania, memory problems, mood swings, nervousness, and more.

Adding to the likely impact is the near-constant hormonal fluctuation sometimes they can go up or down daily. As a result, its not uncommon to have a mix of symptoms related to hormone imbalance for example, not getting enough sleep can result in feeling unstable, which can contribute to anxiety or depression.

Hormones can impact mental health symptoms by exacerbating anxiety and depression symptoms. Getting support for your symptoms medically and from a licensed mental health professional can make a difference. You do not have to suffer alone.

What Are The Risks And Side Effects Of Bhrt

The risks and adverse effects of BHRT differ for men and women according to their health and medical history. Hormone replacement therapy may raise the risk of blood clots, stroke, gallbladder disease, heart disease, and breast cancer. Others may experience acne, bloating, weight gain, fatigue, and mood fluctuations.

Hormone therapy might be uncomfortable at times. Before considering hormone replacement therapy, see your doctor.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy: 986

.Resources:

3Depression during the transition to menopause: A Guide for Patients and Families The Center for Womens Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital. David A. Kahn, MD, Margaret L. Moline, et. al..

.IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be used as medical advice. While the benefits of hormone replacement are well documented through clinical research, we are not representing that hormone therapy is a cure for any disease. Only your treating physician can determine if hormone replacement may be a beneficial part of your healthcare regimen, based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and lifestyle.

Hormone Replacement Therapy After Menopause

Information on HRT was extracted from the self-administered questionnaire data from a cancer screening program. The question was Are you on or have you ever taken hormonal agents to relieve postmenopausal symptoms? Subjects were asked to choose a response among never, use for less than 2 years, use of 25 years, use for more than 5 years, or unknown.

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For All Of Your Bioidentical Hormone Needs Contact Lifexmd Today

LifeXMD is a bioidentical hormonal therapy company that you can trust with all of your hormonal, weight loss, supplemental, and aging needs! When you join our trusted family, you gain a support system that you can count on daily. We provide customers with vital medical advice, comprehensive treatment programs, and personalized and attentive customer service in our offices within the states of Florida, Michigan, and Arizona. We do, however, provide Telemed services nationwide service which allow us to treat you from the comfort of your home and mail therapies directly to your door. No more embarrassing doctors appointments and pharmacy pickups. Were significantly less expensive/costly than the brand name medicine due to our compounded medication availability through our FDA licensed pharmacies inside the USA.

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Perimenopause Menopause And Depression

If you are going through perimenopause or menopause and dont have symptoms of depression, consider yourself lucky. It is impossible to know how many women experience depression because they dont seek treatment and expect and accept that this is a normal part of perimenopause and menopause.

There is some evidence to suggest that depressive symptoms are more severe and common during perimenopause and subside post-menopause. According to Medscape, Investigators from the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles recruited premenopausal women aged 3644 years with no history of major depression and followed up these women for 9 years to detect new onsets of major depression they found that women who entered perimenopause were twice as likely to have clinically significant depressive symptoms as women who had not yet made the menopausal transition.

The fact is, more study is needed to assess depression and the hormonal changes that accompany perimenopause and menopause. We know that the hormones estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone fluctuate during perimenopause and plummet during menopause. Estrogen is related to the production ofserotonin, a mood-regulating neurotransmitter. Fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels cause serotonin production disruption, leading to more mood swings.

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Sottopelle Method Hormone Replacement Therapy For Depression

If you are a woman who is experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, talk to your physician about SottoPelle® Method hormone replacement therapy today. Or you can also find a physician in your area who is a Certified SottoPelle® hormone therapy provider using our Physician Finder HERE.

Who Shouldnt Use Hrt

The benefits of hormone therapy are well understood, but your doctor may decide HRT is not right for you if you have had

Breast cancer

Liver disease

You also shouldnt use HRT if theres any chance you might be pregnant.

*If women experience unwanted side effects when taking HRT for the first time, these symptoms can usually be resolved by changing the type, dose, or route of HRT . It is important that women are aware that, for the vast majority under the age of 60 years, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh any risks.

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Hormone Therapy Could Effectively Prevent Depression For Some Women In The Menopause Transition

Research conducted by Susan Girdler, PhD, and David Rubinow, MD, and published in JAMA Psychiatry, is the first to conclude that a year of hormone therapy can effectively prevent the onset of depressive symptoms for women during the menopause transition.

Research conducted by Susan Girdler, PhD, and David Rubinow, MD, and published in JAMA Psychiatry, is the first to conclude that a year of hormone therapy can effectively prevent the onset of depressive symptoms for women during the menopause transition.

Contact: Jamie Williams, , 984-974-1149

CHAPEL HILL, NC During the menopause transition, the likelihood that a woman will develop clinically significant depressive symptoms increases 2 to 4 times. New research from the UNC School of Medicine has shown for the first time that hormone replacement therapy during this period can prevent the onset of depression, particularly in certain women.

The research was led by Susan Girdler, PhD, professor of psychiatry and co-director of UNCs Postdoctoral Training Program in Reproductive Mood Disorders, and David Rubinow, MD, Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor and Chair of Psychiatry.

Girdler called the findings the most exciting of her 25 year clinical research career.

The fact that we may have the ability to prevent the suffering of women during the menopause transition which lasts on average five years is very exciting, Girdler said.

The National Institute of Health funded this study.

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Hormonal Disorder Or Mood Disorder: How To Tell The Difference

Because lab results can be very similar in women with hormonal disorders and women with mood disorders, making the diagnosis of a hormonal disorder vs. depression or bipolar disorder relies heavily upon the symptoms of each woman. Here is a list of things that women whose mood changes are actually due to hormonal disorders frequently report:

• Mild to severe cyclical mood and/or behavioral changes with menstruation as a teenager
• Other premenstrual concerns such as menstrual migraines, bloating, or breast tenderness
• Anywhere from 5 to 20 good days per month
• A deep feeling or belief that their health concerns may be related to their hormonal status
• Relief from symptoms of depression and other mood changes during pregnancy
• Depression or other mood changes that started or returned after childbirth
• Pre-menstrual mood changes worsened with age and when menstrual cycles completely ceased , mood changes stopped being cyclical and became more or less constant
• Lack of or minimal response to medication prescribed for depression and/or bipolar disorder

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Menopause Does Not Mean A Loss Of Control

While menopause does indeed mark a transition, it does not mean loss of control. With the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, equilibrium can happily return to normal. There is much to be gained in the decades that await during and after menopause. Who doesnt want to live longer and age gracefully? But, if we want to live longer we should also try to look and feel good doing it!Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can improve sleep, protect memory and cognitive functions, and even reduce the incidence of breast, uterus, ovarian, cervical, and colon cancers. In combination, these hormones can also reduce hot flashes, night sweats, and many other side effects of menopause.1-5While we cant reverse the aging process, we can slow it down. The benefits of hormone replacement therapy are regarded as a cornerstone of anti-aging efforts.10 Currently, women can expect to live about -½ of their lives in a state of sex-hormone deficiency if they dont take hormone replacements. This deficiency can lead to long-term disease. That is a huge problem!Skin aging, as well as decreased muscle, bone density, sexual desire, and intellectual activity, can lead to mood disorders osteoporosis, cognitive decline, dementia, heart problems, and painful sex. Bio-identical hormones can give you back the many benefits of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Hormone replacement can directly contribute to longevity, and lead to a significant improvement in your quality of life.

Other Possible Treatments For Depression During Menopause

However, keep in mind that even if youre not a good candidate for HRT, there are still treatments available! You dont need to suffer through depression, and theres no shame in seeking help when you need it. Depression is a serious health condition, so its important to address it as soon as possible. If youre not a good candidate for hormones, some other treatment options include lifestyle changes, talk therapy, and antidepressant medications. In some cases, you might even experience depression because of other common health conditions, like an untreated thyroid disorder. Therefore, if you think youre suffering from depression, talk to one of our health care providers about treatment options that suit your situation.

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The Relationship Between Estrogens And Depression

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

To answer the question of whether conjugated estrogens like Premarin can cause depression or anxiety, we must first talk about what estrogen is. Estrogen is a group of hormones which play a vital role in women’s sexual and reproductive health. They are often referred to as sex hormones because of this. Estrogen helps to regulate a woman’s sexual development, as well as her ability to conceive and bear children.

Investigators In The Study Of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group

University of California, San Francisco : S.R. Cummings, , M.C. Nevitt , D.G. Seeley , D.M. Black , H.K. Genant , C. Arnaud, D. Bauer, W. Browner, L. Christianson, M. Dockrell, C. Fox, R. Gore, S. Harvey, M. Jaime-Chavez, L. Laidlaw, R. Lipschutz, L. Lui, G. Milani, L. Palermo, R. San Valentin, K. Stone, H. Tabor, D. Tanaka, C. Yeung.

University of Maryland: J.C. Scott , R. Sherwin , M.C. Hochberg , J. Lewis , E. Peddicord , A. Bauer, C. Boehm, G. Cullum, L. Finazzo, M.E. Flaks, T. Ford, D. Harris, B. Hohman, E. Oliner, T. Page, J. Schlossberg, C. Shaffer, A. Trimble, S. Trusty.

University of Minnesota: K. Ensrud , P. Schreiner , C. Bell , E. Mitson , C. Bird, D. Blanks, S. Estill, S. Fillhouer, S. Fincham, J. Griffith, J. Hansen, F. Imker-Witte, K. Jacobson, K. Kiel, K. Knauth, N. Nelson, E. Penland-Miller, M. Riley-Alves.

University of Pittsburgh: J.A. Cauley , L.H. Kuller , M. Vogt , L. Harper , L. Buck , C. Bashada, D. Cusick, G. Engleka, A. Githens, M. Gorecki, K. McCune, D. Medve, M. Nasim, C. Newman, S. Rudovsky, N. Watson.

The Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, Oregon: E. Harris , W.M. Vollmer, E. Orwoll, H. Nelson , K. Crannell , J. Bender, A. Doherty, K. Easter, M. Erwin, F. Heinith, J. Kann, K. Redden, C. Romero, K. Snider, C. Souvanlasy.

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Hpa Axisbased Treatments For Major Depression

A number of strategies have attempted to modulate HPA function and/or extrahypothalamic targets as an approach to treat major depression. Several strategies showed initial promise in small clinical trials but were subsequently abandoned. These strategies included cortisol synthesis inhibitors in patients with major depression with or without hypercortisolemia, glucocorticoids in patients with major depression with hypocortisolemia, and vasopressin receptor antagonists. For example, the cortisol synthesis inhibitor metyrapone showed positive antidepressant effects as an augmentation agent in several small trials and one larger double-blind inpatient study however, a larger multisite randomized controlled trial was negative . Stimulation of MRs is also a strategy under investigation . Treatments focused on the CRF and GR systems have been the most extensively studied, and here we discuss these approaches in more depth: CRFR1 antagonists, driven by highly promising preclinical data but which have so far not proved effective in humans, and the GR antagonist mifepristone, which shows promise in the treatment of major depression with psychotic features and remains an active area of investigation.

CRFR1 antagonists.

GR antagonists.

Summary of HPA axistargeted interventions.

TABLE 1. Summary of evidence for hormonal treatments for major depressive disorder