Depression and Hormonal Contraception: Should Depo-Provera Be Used in Postpartum Women?
Because estrogen-containing contraceptives may affect lactation and may increase the risk of thrombosis, progestin-only contraceptives are used in women who are breastfeeding. Â Depo-Provera (DMPA), which contains medroxyprogesterone, is frequently used during the immediate postpartum period in women who are breastfeeding and are interested in efficacious, long-term contraception. Â (The minipill is another type of progestin-only contraceptive which is used in this setting. Â It contains a different type of progestin called norethindrone.) Because [...]
When It Comes to Pregnancy, Bad Timing May Be a Risk Factor for Depression
In early studies designed to identify specific risk factors for postpartum depression, unplanned pregnancy was identified as a relatively weak predictor of postpartum depression. Â But there are many different types of unplanned pregnancy. For example, an unplanned but desired pregnancy is distinct from an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. Â Or what about a pregnancy that is unplanned and badly timed? Â It turns out that these distinctions may be important in determining risk [...]
Weekly Roundup for JULY 29 2016: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
It’s a quiet week in the world of women’s mental health.  Good time to catch up on reading.  Behavioral outcomes in children exposed prenatally to lamotrigine, valproate, or carbamazepine. Deshmukh U, Adams J, Macklin EA, Dhillon R, McCarthy KD, Dworetzky B, Klein A, Holmes LB. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2016 Mar-Apr;54:5-14. Role of emotional processing in depressive responses to sex-hormone manipulation: a pharmacological fMRI study. Henningsson S, Madsen KH, Pinborg A, Heede [...]
You Asked: What Dose of Folic Acid for Pregnant Women Taking Lamotrigine (Lamictal)?
In our community of perinatal psychiatrists, we have recently seen many questions regarding the use of folic acid supplementation in women taking lamotrigine (Lamictal). Â While all recognize that all women of childbearing age should receive folic acid supplementation, there is considerable variation regarding the dose that should be recommended for women taking lamotrigine (Lamictal). Folic Acid Supplements Recommended for All Women of Childbearing Age Folic acid is a B-vitamin needed for [...]
Weekly Roundup for JULY 22 2016: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
This week, there is an interesting article from Tepper and colleagues which observes that about half of women have prominent vasomotor symptoms which persist over many years, often more than a decade. Â Characterizing the trajectories of vasomotor symptoms across the menopausal transition. Tepper PG, Brooks MM, Randolph JF Jr, Crawford SL, El Khoudary SR, Gold EB, Lasley BL, Jones B, Joffe H, Hess R, Avis NE, Harlow S, McConnell DS, [...]
Postpartum Depression: There’s An App For That
Researchers from the University of North Carolina's School of Medicine and the Postpartum Depression: Action Towards Causes and Treatment Consortium have just released a free iPhone app which new mothers can use to diagnose postpartum depression. PPD ACTTM  surveys women to identify those who have had symptoms of PPD. The app also will invite certain women based on survey responses to provide DNA samples so that researchers can study the genes of those [...]