According to a recent study, depression could exacerbate menstrual pain, confirming the close interaction between our body and mind. What other impacts might our mental health have on our physical well-being?
Tl;dr
- Depression could intensify menstrual pain.
- Sleep disorders could be a mediator between these two pathologies.
- More personalized care and reduced stigma are needed.
A link between depression and menstrual pain
A recent study suggests a connection between depression and increased period pain. It thus appears that our mental and physical health are inseparable.
Dysmenorrhea: a common pain
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for abdominal cramps that often accompany menstruation. According to Inserm, 90% of women of childbearing age suffer from it, including 40% in moderate to severe form. Endometriosis, uterine malformations, pelvic inflammatory diseases, obesity and smoking are among the causes identified. A new potential cause is added to this list: depression.
Depression influences menstrual pain
Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men. This finding prompted Chinese and British researchers to examine a possible correlation between mental health and reproductive health. Their study, published in Briefings in Bioinformaticsanalyzed data from more than 600,000 people in Europe and 8,000 in Asia.
Rather than being a consequence of menstrual pain, depression seems to intensify it. The study also highlights the crucial role of sleep disorders, common in depressed people, as mediators between depression and menstrual pain.
The importance of appropriate treatment
“Mental disorders are often not taken into account in the treatment of menstrual pain,” laments Shuhe Liu of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in China. He adds: “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.”
Many women do not consult for this pain, for fear of not being taken seriously. This research highlights the importance of considering all the factors involved in menstrual pain, including mental health, for adequate care.
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