Female Hormonal Influences

During pregnancy, females experience an influx of estrogen and progesterone. As with the menstrual cycle, those who are sensitive to the hormone progesterone may be more prone to irritability and mood swings. Even without a progesterone sensitivity, pregnant women are generally more susceptible to mood fluctuations than those who are not pregnant, especially during the sixth to tenth week and again in the third trimester. These mood fluctuations can include most anything from crying, irritability, anger, anxiety, or agitation.

These symptoms are completely normal during pregnancy; however, if a woman is not sleeping well, has lost interest in living, and is having panic attacks, she may be developing depression and should see a professional.
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To learn more about depression during pregnancy, visit the Government of Canada website and read Depression during pregnancy.

Depression during pregnancy can be a good indicator of postpartum depression (depression after birth) as well. However, treating depression during pregnancy can greatly reduce the chance of developing postpartum depression. The Government of Canada has provided a bar graph depicting selective risk factors and how they relate to postpartum depression.
Courtesy of Public Health Agency of Canada
Menopause is a time in a female’s life when she stops having a menstrual cycle. The body is preparing to have fewer fluctuations in hormones (mainly estrogen and progesterone), and so the drop off of these hormones can cause a change in mood. It should be noted that the women who exhibit the most symptoms at menopause have most likely had the same symptoms in the past at some point. The most common mood changes that are exhibited during menopause are sadness, anxiety, and depression.
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To find more information on this topic, go to Harvard Health Publishing - Menopause and mental health.