There is a powerful link between women’s reproductive awareness and mental health. Psychotherapists report that most women aren’t just struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship and career issues. They are also suffering from reproductive cycle-related issues and painful menstruation where they are only given the option for hormonal birth control or to continue to struggle with the same issues.
The Mental Benefits of Reproductive Health
Not only does reproductive health awareness empower a woman to know her body, track her menstrual cycle and manage her fertility, but the awareness of how hormones play a role throughout a woman’s cycle decrease mental mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.
When a woman becomes aware of what is happening in her body and tracks her observations, she gains valuable information about her body and mental health so that she can be empowered to address them.
The Mental Health Disadvantages of Reproductive Health Issues
Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from anxiety. According to Dr. Jolene Brighton, hormonal changes or imbalances suchas low progesterone levels can contribute to increase in anxiety or depression because progesterone is a natural antidepressant and relaxant.
Low progesterone levels can contribute to changes in emotions, mood swings, irritability, crying easily, anger, and worsening PMS symptoms. Imbalances in estrogen, progesterone and other hormones affect mood-related neurotransmitters like serotonin. This can lead to both premenstrual dysphoric disorder and postpartum depression.
In addition, when a woman is under stress, the body turns its energy into making cortisol instead of producing progesterone. This contributes to less of the calming effect of progesterone and contributes more to anxiety.
Take Control of Your Health
Reproductive health issues like painful menstruation and mental health issues like anxiety and depression can seem very complex, but when a woman is able to consult a reproductive healthcare provider, she can find out what the issue is and how to best address it.
When a woman knows her own body and how to address her issues, she is so much more empowered than if she is handed a hormonal birth control pill along with its unpleasant side effects.
In fact, reproductive health awareness can provide valuable, empowering and healing information about your general, mental and reproductive health.
TCMC Reproductive Health Education
At TCMC, our expert-trained medical staff provides reproductive health education to equip women to understand their body, and encourages her to be assertive in her communication about her reproductive health to address the root causes of her symptoms, not just masking them with birth control.
At True Choice Medical Clinics, our certified clinicians are here to help answer your fertility and reproductive health questions.
To consult with a certified fertility education instructor, call 858-397-1970 or email [email protected]
The Powerful Link Between Fertility Awareness and Mental Health
