Hormones and Bipolar Disorder
Numerous studies have shown that various events connected to fluctuating hormones can contribute to the onset or recurrence of bipolar disorder symptoms.
Menopause
One example of this is late onset bipolar disorder, which often manifests alongside the perimenopausal period. If you have a pre-existing diagnosis, the perimenopausal period may be especially risky for a recurrence of symptoms, or a worsening of those that are already active.
In addition to fluctuating hormones, there are other factors that may explain this risk during these years in a woman’s life — for example, it is often a time of great change, due to things like grown up children moving out of home, and the loss of parents.
Pregnancy
One of the greatest hormonal events in a woman’s life is that of pregnancy and childbirth, and this is also linked to increased bipolar symptoms, or the onset of the disorder.
Women who have recently given birth or who are pregnant are seven times more likely to require hospital treatment for mental health issues, and twice as likely to have a recurrence in previous symptoms. With this risk in mind, it is important to have regular contact with a mental health care provider during and after pregnancy.
Drug therapy during pregnancy and postpartum is a delicate balancing act, and may require some changes to to your medication. Traditionally drugs such as lithium or haloperidol are used during these periods as they are known to pose less harm, and given that they have been around longer, more is known about them.
If your treatment has been stopped, it is often started again with one of these drugs. Newer anti-psychotics have not shown any risks to date, however further study is needed in this area.
Valproic acid and carbamazepine have been shown to cause birth defects, and are likely to be stopped, or folic acid added to help the development of the brain and spinal cord.
Puberty
Hormones also run rampant during puberty in both genders, and are likely to have an impact on bipolar symptoms if the disorder has onset early. For example, sexual frustrations may lead to periods of elevated mood, aggression, or hyperactive behavior, and the general low mood sometimes associated with puberty may be exacerbated and made worse by a pre-existing mood disorder.
Teenagers going through puberty with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder may also experience difficulty at school due to their unpredictable behavior, increased sexual behavior (which may also be risky). They may participate in dangerous behavior like excessive drinking or taking street drugs. It is important to recognize the difference between ‘acting out’ and the start of a potential mood episode.
Next Page: PMS, Bipolar in Men, Stress, and Misdiagnosis
