---
title: Does bipolar disorder affect women differently than men? | Niyora
description: Yes. Bipolar disorder often starts later in women, who experience more depressive episodes and rapid mood cycling. The postpartum period is high-risk for onse
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/gender-differences-in-bipolar-disorder-2003/
---

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- Does bipolar disorder affect women differently than men?

Review, 2003

# Does bipolar disorder affect women differently than men?

Yes. Bipolar disorder often starts later in women, who experience more depressive episodes and rapid mood cycling. The postpartum period is high-risk for onset or recurrence.

 Moderate study design

Women and men with bipolar disorder

## What they did

A review of how bipolar disorder presentation and course differ between women and men, including treatment considerations specific to women and pregnancy.

## What they found

Bipolar disorder typically starts later in women than men. Women more often have depressive episodes, mixed mania, and rapid cycling. Women more frequently have other conditions like thyroid disease, migraine, obesity, and anxiety. The postpartum period is high-risk for bipolar onset or recurrence. Women may experience delayed diagnosis.

## What it means for you

Bipolar disorder manifests differently in women with specific patterns of mood episodes and comorbid conditions. Gender-specific care is important, especially postpartum. This paper is about bipolar disorder, not PMS or PMDD. The main limit is that this is a review summarizing existing knowledge, not new research.

## About the study

Original title Gender differences in bipolar disorder Authors Arnold LM Journal The Psychiatric clinics of North America Year 2003 Study design Review What was tested None - review of bipolar disorder in women vs men Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0193-953x(03)00036-4](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0193-953x(03)00036-4)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Schizophrenia and psychosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-psychosis/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)[Thyroid disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-thyroid/)

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