Hormones are chemical substances naturally produced in our body. They help the organs of our body to carry out their functions properly. But the production of hormones required as per the requirement of the body depends on health and lifestyle factors. Imbalance of hormones can cause explainable and unexplainable disorders. Depression can be listed as one among these disorders. Such conditions are common among women than men. This article tries to gain further insight on this topic.

Why Hormonal Imbalance is common among women: In 21st century, women are getting equal opportunities like men to prove themselves. They are proving themselves to be competent in male dominated careers too. Along with enjoying the success, their body is subjected to mental stress. The way a women’s body is made up, do not allow her to handle such degrees of stress. Poor nutrition, lack of exercise, junk food, smoking, intake of sleeping and contraceptive pills are the factors which cause hormonal imbalance. This is the price they pay for success in their career. Symptoms of hormonal imbalance become clear in women by their thirties. Some of the symptoms of hormonal imbalance are infertility, hair loss, mood disorder and depression.

How Hormonal Imbalance Causes Depression:

• Two important hormones of women’s body are Progesterone and Estrogen.
• Progesterone prepares the womb to receive and preserve fertilized eggs. This allows pregnancy in women.
• Estrogen is required for normal sexual development and healthy functioning of the reproductive organs in women.
• The production of these hormones should always be in balance.
• But stress and other harmful factors can cause imbalance in the production of these hormones.
• It can cause excess production of the hormone Estrogen when compared to progesterone.
• As a result the menstrual cycle in women get disturbed increasing the risk of depression.
• Another important hormone in a women’s body is the Cortisol.
• Its normal level in the body is 6-30 microgram/dl.
• Stress can cause drop in the production of this hormone and obesity.
• Research done on this topic reports that obesity and depression are closely related.