This work investigated the relationship between mental health and psychological well-being in relation to reproductive features of women who participated in two Finnish population-based studies (Health 2000 and FINRISK 1997, 2002 and 2007). A miscarriage as a pregnancy outcome resulted related to a high prevalence of depressive disorders, and to more severe depressive or anxiety symptoms compared with other pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, the higher the number of miscarriages was, the worse the current state of mood was and the higher the frequency of a psychiatric diagnosis. The use of hormonal contraception was not associated with adverse psychological status or depressive symptoms or disorders, and no effect of different hormonal compounds was detected. Finally, a high prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders emerged in connection with the menopausal transition, and current use of hormone therapy was associated with worse psychological well-being or mental health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. In general, psychological well-being and mental health seem to be related to reproductive events in women.
Mental health and reproductive health in women
The epidemiology and phenomenology of many psychiatric disorders differ between genders. It is plausible that (endogenous and exogenous) gonadal hormones and reproductive events contribute to this pattern.
