According to statistics, females are twice as much to suffer from depression as men. This is not the only disadvantage that women have to go through because they are also at risk for more side effects when receiving treatments for depression. The antidepressant Zoloft for example, has been linked with birth defects especially when taken at the third trimester of pregnancy. Zoloft is manufactured by Pfizer, the makers of newly-approved lung cancer drug, Xalkori.
Why Do Women Suffer from Depression?
A number of factors can be enumerated why women suffer from depression but most often than not, it has something to do with hormones. Below are some of the most common causes of depression in women.
• Premenstrual Problems
Fluctuations in hormone can lead to a variety of symptoms that can also be associated with Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as irritability, being emotional and the feeling of being bloated. Usually, most women experience mild symptoms of PMS but for some, the symptoms are so severe that it disrupts their normal functions.
• Pregnancy
Pregnancy is known to be a condition in a woman’s life where hormones can be at a disadvantage. Changes in hormonal levels may contribute to depression especially to women who are at risk even before getting pregnant.
Postpartum changes may be very significant in women and this may lead for them to suffer from depression. Usually, most women experience postpartum blues which is deemed normal but some progress to a severe state which is postpartum depression. Postpartum is believed to be caused by the sudden drop of hormones after giving birth.
Managing Depression in Women
The management of depression in women are similar to those of men. However, one must consider their biological differences. In medications, women should start taking antidepressants in lower doses than men to avoid the serious side effects. Pregnant women are also given special considerations because antidepressants can be harmful to the fetus. For instance, birth defects caused by Zoloft have been raised especially when taken during the third trimester.
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