Let's learn about bipolar disorder affecting women.

Some days you feel incredibly happy, energetic... like you can do anything. But other days you feel so sad that you can't even get out of bed, so sad that you don't want to do anything? This kind of swinging between two conflicting emotions can be a symptom of a mental condition called bipolar disorder . Today, we're going to talk about this, especially how it affects women, in a very simple and friendly way.

Simply put, what is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition characterized by extreme changes in a person's mood. It has two main extremes.

1. Mania: This is the period of extreme happiness and energy I mentioned earlier. During this time, you may feel like you can't do anything. You may not be able to sleep, you may be working non-stop, you may be talking very fast, and you may be making rash decisions (e.g. spending a lot of money at once). This is the high.

2. Depression : This is the other extreme. It is a period of intense sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in anything. You don't even want to get out of bed, you're always tired, and you don't even want to do the things you used to enjoy. This is the lowest point.

The nature of this illness is that the mood swings back and forth between these two extremes. For some, these conditions can be very severe.

Does this situation affect women differently?

Yes. Although both men and women can develop this disease, there are some differences in the way women experience it.

Research shows that women are more likely to experience depression than mania , and that women's hormones and reproductive system function may directly affect the nature and treatment of this illness.

How are hormones affected?

Hormone levels change at different stages of a woman's life. Let's look at how these changes affect bipolar disorder.

• Menstrual Cycle: Some studies suggest that women with bipolar disorder may experience more severe premenstrual symptoms (PMS). However, research has shown that women who receive proper treatment tend to have stable moods throughout their menstrual cycle.
• Menopause : Due to the major hormonal changes that occur around and after menopause, some women may experience bipolar symptoms for the first time. For those who already have the condition, symptoms may also worsen during this time.
• Pregnancy and Postpartum Period: This is the most important and risky period . If a woman with bipolar disorder becomes pregnant or has a baby, the risk of a flare-up and hospitalization is seven times higher than for other women. In addition, the risk of symptoms recurring is about twice as high.

What are the treatment options?

The main goal of treatment for bipolar disorder is to maintain mood stability. That is, to control both high (manic) and low (depressive) states. This is usually a lifelong treatment.

The main treatments used are medication and talk therapy .

Some of the medications prescribed by doctors include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics.

Important: Some of these medications carry a warning that they may slightly increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially in children and young adults. Therefore , you should immediately report any new or worsening symptoms, unusual changes in mood, or suicidal thoughts to your doctor after starting treatment.

Special care should be taken with treatment during pregnancy.

This is a sensitive topic for women. It is essential to continue treatment during pregnancy, as stopping treatment can worsen the disease and harm both the mother and the baby. However, it is also important to consider the possible effects of the medication on the baby.

Safe and risky medications during pregnancy

• Drugs that are considered safer: Doctors generally prefer older drugs like `Lithium` and `Haloperidol (Haldol)` because they have more long-term data and safety information.
• Risky drugs: The drugs `Valproic acid` and `Carbamazepine` have been shown to be harmful to the unborn baby and can contribute to birth defects. If you find out you are pregnant while taking `Valproic acid`, your doctor will immediately change the medication or adjust the dosage and prescribe folic acid to prevent birth defects related to the development of the baby's brain and spinal cord.
• Medications given during the last trimester of pregnancy: If you take medications like `Aripiprazole (Abilify), `Risperidone (Risperdal),` and `Quetiapine (Seroquel)` during the last three months of pregnancy, the baby may develop certain symptoms after birth. These are called `extrapyramidal signs (EPS).`

Symptoms that the child may experience:

• Restlessness
• Abnormal muscle tightness or tightness
• Excessive sleepiness
• Difficulty breathing and breastfeeding
• Involuntary muscle contractions or twitches

For some babies, these symptoms will go away on their own within a few hours or days, but others may need to be hospitalized for observation or treatment.

Other special points for women

Valproic Acid and PCOS

Girls and young women taking the drug valproic acid should have regular medical checkups. This is because, although rare, the drug can increase levels of the male hormone testosterone, which can lead to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) . PCOS is a condition that affects the ovaries and causes obesity, excessive body hair growth, and irregular menstrual cycles.

Side effects of lithium

Lithium use can cause low thyroid hormone levels in some people. This can also affect bipolar symptoms. If this happens, thyroid hormone medication may be needed. In addition, side effects such as drowsiness, frequent urination, and headaches may occur.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

In very severe cases of symptoms, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be used as a safer alternative to medication, especially during pregnancy. Here, doctors constantly monitor the baby's heart rate and oxygen levels, so that any problems can be treated immediately.

Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Mental Health, Women's Health, Pregnancy, Mania, Depression, Mood Disorder