The Hormonal Link to Major Depressive Disorder

About 21 million women and men in the United States had at least one episode of major depressive disorder in the prior year. That’s approximately 8.3% of all adults.

However, women are significantly more likely than men to suffer from depression. About 10.3% of adult women have major depression, compared with just 6.2% men. Younger people are also more susceptible than older people. 

If you’re a woman, you may already wonder if your mental health is influenced by hormonal fluctuations. If you’re a man with depression, you might also speculate that your mood is linked to lower levels of the hormone testosterone (T). 

At Precise Research Centers, our founder, Joseph Kwentus, MD, stays on the forefront of mental health treatments. At our offices in Flowood, Mississippi, we provide supportive therapies as part of the clinical trials we conduct on major depression.

How do your hormones influence your risk for depression? Here is a brief guide.

Puberty may cause emotional turmoil

Puberty brings cataclysmic hormonal shifts in both sexes. Although menstruation in girls is often associated with depression and other mood shifts, both sexes are susceptible to depression in puberty.

In fact, the onset of depression peaks during puberty. Women and men who struggle with lifelong depression often have their first bout of depression during adolescence. 

If your child is going through puberty, they may need extra support from family and friends to weather the hormonal storms inside and outside their bodies. If you’ve had depression since you were a child, hormonal fluctuations may have been the initial trigger.

PMS isn’t a myth

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is sometimes dismissed as “being all in your head.” But PMS is a real phenomenon. Researchers believe that rises and falls in estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones influence chemicals in the brain that regulate mood, such as serotonin.

Women and girls may feel physically uncomfortable before and during their cycles, which can also affect their moods. In rare cases, physical and mental symptoms are so severe that they’re classified as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is a type of depression that needs treatment.

Pregnancy can alter mood

We’ve all heard of the “baby blues,” or postpartum depression. As with puberty and menopause, pregnancy brings huge swings in hormone levels for women. Mood swings can occur throughout pregnancy. 

About 10-15% of women experience postpartum depression, which is a serious medical condition. If you’re depressed after giving birth, you may:

• Cry excessively
• Feel like you're a bad mom
• Feel numb
• Experience anxiety
• Suffer from insomnia
• Have trouble with daily tasks
• Be unable to care for your baby
• Have thoughts of harming your baby
• Have suicidal thoughts or actions

If you or someone you love suffers from postpartum depression or has thoughts of suicide, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing “988” ASAP. Postpartum depression requires immediate medical intervention and treatment to keep mother and baby safe.

‘Change of life’ can change your mental health

Although hot flashes and night sweats are strongly associated with menopause in the public’s mind, the years before, during, and after menopause can bring a wide variety of symptoms due to declining levels of estrogen and progesterone. Women in the midst of their change of life may find that they struggle with:

• Insomnia
• Excessive sweating
• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Mood swings
• Low libido
• Dry vagina
• Fat gain
• Hair loss
• Skin sagging
• Depression
• Anxiety

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be helpful for women during perimenopause and after menopause. You might benefit from topical HRT or from pellets that your doctor inserts in your hip or arm every few months.

Today’s bioidentical HRT is structurally identical to human hormones, reducing the chances of side effects. If your depression went hand-in-hand with perimenopause and menopause, HRT alone may be enough to make you feel like yourself again.

Low testosterone depresses men’s moods

The grumpy old man is a stereotype that has its roots in the truth. As men age, their testosterone levels begin to decline. Low T can cause symptoms in men such as:

• Fatigue
• Fat gain
• Muscle loss
• Erectile dysfunction
• Low libido
• Brain fog
• Irritability

Although most people associate major depression with chronic sadness or depressed mood, it tends to manifest differently in older men. When T declines and a man becomes depressed, he may express his inner turmoil through bursts of anger and uncontrollable rage.

If you or a loved one suffers from a major depressive disorder that may have a hormonal component, call our team at 601-685-3457. You can also book an appointment online for depression treatment, or send a message to our team using our website form.

You and your loved one may also be eligible for our ongoing clinical trials for major depressive disorder. Clinical trials are free: You receive all medications and supportive therapies without charge.