It seems that there is considerable variation in the estimated prevalence of suicidal ideation in pregnant and postpartum women across studies. One element that may contribute to this variation is how we assess for this [...]
Opioid use in pregnant women is a significant public health concern. A recent study observed that one out of five pregnant women (21.6%) filled a prescription for an opioid and 2.5% received a chronic opioid [...]
Increasing numbers of peri- and post-menopausal women request “bioidentical” rather than synthetic hormones. Although there is a tendency to think of bioidentical hormones as “all-natural”, they, like synthetic hormones, are manufactured in the laboratory. In [...]
We have recently seen an increased interest in the subject of perinatal anxiety. While we have focused more on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms are actually very common during pregnancy and the postpartum period. According to [...]
According to a recent analysis of national data by the Centers for Disease Control, the number of pregnant women with opioid use disorder (as documented at the time of delivery) more than quadrupled from 1999 [...]
This Week in Women's Mental Health Another busy week. There are several interesting articles which look at non-pharmacological treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Yoga and other complementary treatments show promise but the [...]
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may emerge during the postpartum period, either as the first onset of illness or as a recurrence of preexisting OCD. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V) [...]
For women with histories of major depression, choosing whether to maintain or to discontinue treatment with an antidepressant during pregnancy is often challenging. This is a process which requires careful and thoughtful consideration, weighing the [...]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. Bremelanotide (to be marketed as Vyleesi) is used on-demand. Bremelanotide is a peptide [...]
Although there are data to support the use of many different antidepressants and other psychotropic medications, many women and their providers would prefer to avoid the use of medications during pregnancy. Options for non-pharmacologic treatment [...]
