Hormone Decline Causes Depression 

Author: Kimberly Bennett, RPh

Depression can sneak up on us sometimes, and often we may not know why we are feeling down. You may be asking yourself “why am I depressed?” because you know that you have every reason in the world to be happy. Everything in your life is good. You are married to a wonderful man and have three precious children. You have a beautiful home, a successful career, a loving family and great friends. So why aren’t you happy?

When women act sad or moody, sometimes people will joke that “oh, it’s your hormones!” and many times they aren’t wrong. Getting to the underlying cause of depression can be challenging, however hormone decline is a common culprit.

Hormonal Decline: Common Cause of Depressed Moods.

Progesterone
Progesterone has a calming effect on the brain. It stimulates the brain’s GABA receptors, the feel-good, calming neurotransmitters. When your progesterone levels decline, you feel down and moody. Did you ever notice how some women say how good they felt during their pregnancy? That’s because of the high levels of progesterone being produced by the placenta. After childbirth, the drop in progesterone is what causes the low moods of postpartum depression

Estrogen
A decline in estrogen can negatively affect women’s moods and cause depression, as well. Estrogen has a role in optimal brain health and relieving depression. Research demonstrates that estrogen alone seems to be beneficial for improving mood in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.  A common cause of low moods in females is due to the drop of estrogen mid-cycle. When estrogen drops, so does serotonin. Therefore, a typical time for low moods is mid-cycle after ovulation. 

Testosterone                              
Depression is commonly associated with women, but make no mistake, men can become equally down and depressed, too. In men, low testosterone is a cause of depression.  They may not talk about it as much as women do, but it definitely happens. Depression can make a man feel sad, tired, irritable and empty inside. He may feel hopeless, and lose interest in work, family and activities he used to like. He may not feel like himself anymore.

Low testosterone causes depression, depressed sex drive, nervousness, irritability, feeling ill at ease, and worry. Research findings suggest that testosterone can improve mood and relieve depression in depressed men with low testosterone levels.  Research also shows that men with low testosterone showed an increased incidence of depression.

We Can Help

If you are experiencing depressed moods, give us a call at 281-698-8698 for a complimentary wellness consultation, or click here to take our symptom checker. By replenishing the hormones you are missing, you can not only help relieve your depression, but improve your overall health.

Call Physicians Preference Pharmacy at 281-828-9088 with any questions about your pharmacy needs.