Did you know that women are twice as likely to be affected by depression as men? This striking figure prompted Chinese and British researchers to explore in more detail a possible link between mental health and reproductive health. Their study, which analyzed data from more than 600,000 people in Europe and 8,000 in Asia, reveals surprising results.
Depression: a cause rather than a consequence
Contrary to what one might expect, researchers found no evidence that menstrual pain increases the risk of depression. On the other hand, depression would increase the risk of suffering from painful periods.
The role of sleep
The study also highlights the crucial role of sleep disorders as mediators between depression and menstrual pain. Sleep disturbances, common among depressed people, could in fact exacerbate menstrual pain. “It may therefore be essential to treat sleep problems in the management of the other two pathologies,” emphasize the authors.
“Mental disorders are often not taken into account in the treatment of pathologies such as menstrual pain,” laments Shuhe Liu of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in China. “Our findings highlight the importance of mental health screening in people who experience severe menstrual pain. We hope this can lead to more personalized treatment options, better healthcare and a reduction in the stigma surrounding these conditions. »
Because even today, many women choose not to consult, fearing that it is not a health problem considered “legitimate” and fearing not to be taken seriously, as has already been said. shown several studies.
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