--- title: Does a history of depression increase the risk of heavy menstrual bleeding? description: Yes. Women who had a past history of depression were about 1.89 times more likely to report heavy menstrual bleeding. Depression history was not linked to oth url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-of-past-and-recent-major-depression-and-menstrual-characteristics-in-2012/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does a history of depression increase the risk of heavy menstrual bleeding? Cohort study, 2012 # Does a history of depression increase the risk of heavy menstrual bleeding? Yes. Women who had a past history of depression were about 1.89 times more likely to report heavy menstrual bleeding. Depression history was not linked to other bleeding problems or premenstrual symptoms. Moderate study design 934 midlife women from a multisite US study; one third had past depression and 11% had recent depression ## What they did Researchers interviewed 934 midlife women about their menstrual health, bleeding patterns, and psychiatric history. They determined who had depression by using standardized psychiatric interviews. ## What they found One third of women reported heavy bleeding and one third had a past history of depression. Women with a past depression history were much more likely to have heavy bleeding (about 1.89 times more likely than women without depression history). Past depression was not linked to other types of abnormal bleeding or premenstrual symptoms when recent depression was taken into account. ## What it means for you A past history of depression may be a marker for heavy menstrual bleeding in middle-aged women, though we do not know why. The study included many different ethnic groups, which makes it stronger, but it only shows that the two conditions are linked, not that one causes the other. 934 women studied 1.89 times more likely to have heavy bleeding with depression history one third with heavy bleeding ## About the study Original title Association of past and recent major depression and menstrual characteristics in midlife: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Authors Bromberger JT, Schott LL, Matthews KA et al. Journal Menopause (New York, N.Y.) Year 2012 Study design Cohort study Participants 934 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e318248f2d5](https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e318248f2d5) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2004 Do women with PMS have worse menopausal symptoms? Review, 1992 Is PMS really caused by hormones? Lab study, 2018 How does depression affect menstrual function and fertility in women? Review, 2014 Are mental health problems linked to gynecological conditions like PMS and PMDD? Review, 2012 Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause? Review, 2011 Can estrogen hormones treat depression linked to the menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗