Depression
Because depression is more common in women in their estrogen-producing years than in males or in women who have gone through menopause, it is evident that estrogen has a tight relationship with the emotional well-being of women. Estrogen has also been related to mood disorders that are unique to women, such as premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and postpartum depression. These conditions manifest themselves solely in women.
Up to twenty percent of the population may experience some sadness at some point in their lives, making depression one of the most common mood disorders. In addition, women tend to be more susceptible to mood disorders when their hormone levels fluctuate, such as right before they start having their periods or right after giving birth. The neurotransmitter systems that control moods, such as serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, are some of the neurotransmitter systems that are regulated by estrogen’s actions on the brain and the nervous system. Higher estrogen levels induce a hormonal imbalance in both men and women. However, certain women may be more sensitive to changes in their hormone levels, making them more vulnerable to clinical depression when these levels are out of whack.
