In Brief: Menopausal Symptoms More Severe in Sedentary Women
According to a recent study article published online in Menopause, having a sedentary lifestyle significantly affects the severity of perimenopausal symptoms.  This study included more than 6000 women aged 40 to 59 years who received care at urban health clinics across 11 Latin American countries. Women who exercised fewer than three times per week reported more severe menopause symptoms than those who got more exercise.  Women with sedentary lifestyles were also more likely to report anxiety, [...]
CDC Calls for Increased Research into the Safety of Antidepressants During Pregnancy
Something is happening. Â The issue of perinatal depression is spending a lot of time in the media spotlight these days. Â But rather than focusing on the risks of medications used during pregnancy (the usual headline grabber), these reports highlight the high prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in pregnancy and postpartum women and the need to pay more attention to the mental health needs of this vulnerable population. Â Last week the [...]
January 2016 Roundup: Recent Publications in Reproductive Psychiatry
Screening for Depression in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Siu AL; US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Bibbins-Domingo K, et al. JAMA. 2016 Jan 26;315(4):380-7. Is third trimester serotonin reuptake inhibitor use associated with postpartum hemorrhage? Kim DR, et al. J Psychiatr Res. 2015. Show full citation PTSDÂ SYMPTOMSÂ ACROSSÂ PREGNANCYÂ AND EARLY POSTPARTUM AMONG WOMEN WITH LIFETIMEÂ PTSDÂ DIAGNOSIS. Muzik M, McGinnis EW, Bocknek E, Morelen D, Rosenblum KL, Liberzon I, Seng J, [...]
In Brief: A Diet Rich in Soy May Improve Fertility
A new study suggests that a soy-rich diet may improve fertility in women undergoing infertility treatment. Â How? Â Researchers hypothesize that soy products may help to offset the the harmful effects of bisphenol A or BPA. Just to review, bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in many types of food storage containers, including polycarbonate plastic water bottles and can liners. Â In the human body, BPA mimics the action of estrogen and [...]
![By Vera Kratochvil [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://womensmentalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mother_Kissing_Baby-320x202.jpg)
Panel Recommends Depression Screening For Pregnant And Postpartum Women
Yesterday the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a final recommendation statement on Screening for Depression in Adults. The Task Force recommends that clinicians screen ALL ADULTS for depression and notes that the evidence indicates that screening in the primary care setting is beneficial. Echoing the recommendations made by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists last year, the  USPSTF highlights the importance of screening in populations at particularly high [...]
Depression and Anxiety More Common in Adolescents with Dysmenorrhea
 Many endocrinological, physical, and psychological changes occur in the adolescent years. Dysmenorrhea,or painful menses, is a relatively common complaint among adolescent girls.   A recent study in the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology explored the relationship between mood disorders and dysmenorrhea in adolescence.  Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the occurrence of negative physical, psychological or behavioral symptoms prior to the onset of menses, which resolves following initiation of menstruation.  Although [...]