Postpartum psychosis may result in a small percentage of women. During pregnancy a woman has 60 times the normal amount of progesterone in her body. During this time she usually feels great. After the birth, the progesterone falls to zero. This huge drop in progesterone accounts for postpartum depession.
Patients can feel normal with natural progesterone therapy.
If used immediately after the birth of a baby, postpartum depression can be prevented. After a hysterectomy, patients may experience weight gain, fatigue, depression, crying for no reason, migraines, hot flashes and irritability. Additionally, removal of the ovaries involves loss of sex drive, lowered resistance to infection and extreme fatigue. After a tubal ligation patients experience PMS symptoms due to the blood supply being altered to the ovaries. Patients can feel normal on natural progesterone therapy Treatment of Perimenopause Perimenopause is defined as the years leading up to menopause usually beginning in the early 40's.