You Asked: Is It Safe to Take Melatonin During Pregnancy?
Many women experience some degree of sleep disturbance during pregnancy. For a significant number of women, the sleep disruption may be so severe as to require some type of intervention. In a previous post, we discussed the use of different types of medications to treat insomnia during pregnancy. While these drugs are highly effective, many women with sleep problems inquire about the use of “natural” agents, such as melatonin, during pregnancy.
Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Depression in Young Women
Vitamin D deficiency is more common than ever, and many experts are concerned that this deficiency may lead to a wide variety of health problems, including depression.
You Asked: Should Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Dose Be Adjusted During Pregnancy?
For many women with bipolar disorder, lamotrigine (Lamictal) is an effective mood stabilizer. Given its relatively favorable reproductive safety profile, lamotrigine is a reasonable option for women who require treatment with a mood stabilizer during pregnancy.
Does Caffeine Make Menopausal Symptoms Worse?
Studies evaluating the relationship of caffeine to vasomotor symptoms have yielded conflicting results.
Abuse as a Risk Factor for Perinatal Depression
Two recent reports explore the relationship between abuse and risk for perinatal depression. The first is a study which analyzed data from 53,065 pregnant women participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Exposure (as an adult) to emotional, sexual, or physical abuse was based on self-report at week 30 of pregnancy, differentiating if the perpetrator was known or a stranger and whether the abuse was recent (<12 months [...]
What is S-Equol? Does It Really Work for Menopausal Symptoms?
Approximately 70% of all women experience hot flashes and/or night sweats (also called vasomotor symptoms or VMS) during the menopause transition. Although estrogen-containing hormone therapy is highly effective in managing these symptoms, various studies have raised concerns regarding the risks associated with prolonged use of hormone therapy and many women now use other non-hormonal options to manage their symptoms, including over-the-counter complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), including soy isoflavones, black cohosh, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, the data regarding the effectiveness of these alternative treatments has been mixed.