Depressive symptoms and their relationship with endogenous reproductive hormones and sporadic anovulation in premenopausal women

Abstract

Purpose To determine whether depressive symptoms are associated with ovulation or reproductive hormone concentrations in eumenorrheic women without a reported diagnosis of clinical depression. Methods A prospective cohort of 248 regularly-menstruating women, aged 18–44 years (27.3± 8.2) were evaluated for depressive symptoms at baseline using the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and categorized dichotomously (< 16, no depressive symptoms [92%] vs. ≥16, depressive symptoms [8%]). Serum concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone were measured up to 8 times/cycle for up to two menstrual cycles. Linear mixed models estimated associations between depressive symptoms and hormone concentrations while generalized linear mixed models assessed their relationship with sporadic anovulation. Results No significant associations were identified between depressive symptoms and reproductive hormone levels (all P > 0.05) or the odds of sporadic anovulation (adjusted OR: 1.1, 95% confidence interval [0.02, 5.0]), after adjusting for age, race, body mass index, perceived stress level, and alcohol consumption. Conclusions Despite reported associations between mental health and menstrual cycle dysfunction, depressive symptoms were not associated with reproductive hormone concentrations or sporadic anovulation in this cohort of regularly-menstruating women with no recent (within one year) self-reported history of clinical depression.

Psychiatric Symptoms Across the Menstrual Cycle in Adult Women: A Comprehensive Review

“…In a large study of 248 adult, premenopausal women (60% White), depressive symptoms and hormone levels were measured across at least two menstrual cycles. 71 The authors found no relationship between depressive symptoms and absolute levels of hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle, although women with more depressive symptoms also had worse premenstrual mood changes. Premenstrual mood worsening was also found in an earlier study, 59 and healthy women have reported higher symptoms of depression in both early and late follicular phases compared to the mid-luteal phase.…”

“…Epidemiological and self-report studies assessing depressive symptoms in healthy women produced inconsistent findings. In a large study of 248 adult, premenopausal women (60% White), depressive symptoms and hormone levels were measured across at least two menstrual cycles 71 . The authors found no relationship between depressive symptoms and absolute levels of hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle, although women with more depressive symptoms also had worse premenstrual mood changes.…”

Serum caffeine and paraxanthine concentrations and menstrual cycle function: correlations with beverage intakes and associations with race, reproductive hormones, and anovulation in the BioCycle Study

“…Participants were asked to measure their frequencies of 20 depressive feelings and behaviors in the past week with responses ranging from "rarely or none of the time" (0 points) to "most or all the time" (3 points). Each participant was given an overall score (range: 0-60) (23). At the end of the follow-up period, the total percentage of body fat was measured with the use of dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic Discovery Elite, software version 12.4.1; Hologic Inc.).…”

Hormones and depression in the advanced age

“…Available information is even more scarce on the potential link between circulating gonadotropins and depression. In one available study depressive symptoms were not associated with circulating gonadotropins in regularly menstruating women [36]. On the other hand, women aged 36 to 45 years with a history of lifetime depression had higher levels of serum LH and FSH and lower levels of oestradiol [37].…”