study-finds-link-between-mood-and-menstrual-pain

Women experiencing depression are more prone to suffer from menstrual pain, referred to as dysmenorrhea, according to a study.

 

Earlier studies indicate that women are twice as likely to experience depression compared to men and often report more intense physical symptoms. Although connections between mental health and reproductive health have been established, these relationships have not been sufficiently examined.

 

To investigate this, researchers from China and the UK conducted a study analysing genetic variations and pinpointing specific genes that might be linked to the impact of depression on menstrual pain.

 

“Our findings provide preliminary evidence that depression may be a cause, rather than a consequence, of dysmenorrhea,” said lead author Shuhe Liu, a doctoral student at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool-University (XJTLU), China.

 

They, however, “did not find evidence that period pain increased the risk of depression”.

 

In the research published in the journal Briefings in Bioinformatics, the researchers analysed around 600,000 cases from European populations and 8,000 from East Asian populations, finding a strong connection in both datasets. 

 

They also investigated how sleeplessness—a frequent issue for those experiencing depression—acts as a significant mediator between depression and dysmenorrhea. 

 

The findings indicated that heightened sleep disturbances could worsen menstrual pain, emphasising the importance of addressing sleep problems to manage both conditions effectively. 

 

Additionally, the study underscored the necessity for a comprehensive approach to treating mental health and reproductive concerns.

 

Liu noted that “mental disorders are often not considered when treating conditions such as period pain”.

 

“Our findings emphasise the importance of mental health screening for people who suffer from severe menstrual pain”.

 

While the researchers called for more studies to establish the link, they said the findings can pave the way for “more personalised treatment options, and improved healthcare, and reduce the stigma surrounding the conditions”.