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Mothers face increased risk of depression and psychosis after childbirth – study
Depression and psychosis are more common in women after childbirth than before, while suicide attempts fall, according to two major studies in Sweden.
Researchers analysed nearly 1.8m pregnancies between 2003 and 2019 and found that mental ill health has risen over time, especially before pregnancy.
During pregnancy, new diagnoses decline, but after childbirth, risks increase again, particularly for depression and psychosis.
The research showed that depression risk rises by 20 per cent during weeks five to 15 after childbirth compared with the year before pregnancy.
Psychosis – a condition where people lose touch with reality – increases up to sevenfold during the first 20 weeks after childbirth.
Scientists from Karolinska Institutet tracked women’s diagnoses before, during and after pregnancy using Swedish national health registers.
They found that psychiatric conditions follow distinct patterns around pregnancy, with depression and psychosis peaking after delivery.
“We can see that the risk of depression is about 20 per cent higher during weeks 5 to 15 after childbirth, compared to the year before pregnancy. For psychosis, the risk is up to seven times higher during the first 20 weeks after childbirth,” said Emma Bränn, researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.
The introduction of national screening guidelines for pregnant women in Sweden in 2020 appears to have helped identify depression earlier.
Women who gave birth after the guidelines were introduced were diagnosed with depression sooner than those who delivered before 2020.
“We don’t see that more people are being diagnosed, but screening could mean that women are identified earlier and don’t have to suffer as long before they can get the support and help they need,” Bränn explained.
Another study by the same group examined suicide risk.
Mothers were found to be less likely to attempt suicide during and after pregnancy compared with fathers – the reverse of trends in the general population, where women usually have higher rates of attempts.
Fathers showed a brief dip in suicide risk during the first ten weeks after birth, followed by an increase.
“Our results suggest that both mothers and fathers are less likely to attempt suicide immediately after having a child, especially mothers,” said Yihui Yang, PhD student at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.
“Although suicide attempts during and after pregnancy are rare, they can have devastating consequences and are often preventable.
“It is therefore important that healthcare providers conduct regular check-ups during and after pregnancy to identify parents who are struggling and offer support to prevent suicide.”
The studies also found that other psychiatric conditions – including anxiety, stress-related disorders and substance abuse – decline during pregnancy and after childbirth compared with before pregnancy.
Researchers suggest this may reflect biological changes, lifestyle shifts and greater healthcare contact during pregnancy.
The Femtech World Awards is proud to reveal the shortlist for Research Project of the Year as part of the third annual global celebration of innovation, impact and leadership across women’s health.
From fertility science and perimenopause research to regional ecosystem analysis, the shortlisted projects reflect the breadth and growing influence of femtech research worldwide.
The category is sponsored by OncoGenomX, with the winner to be selected by a representative from the organisation.
OncoGenomX is dedicated to offering solutions and providing comprehensive support services that empower Drug Developers, Clinical Researchers, Oncologists,NextGenSeq Diagnostics Laboratories, NextGenSeq Service Organisations, Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics Companies to achieve their ambitious goals
The shortlisted entries for Research Project of the Year are:
Women’s health remains significantly underserved in South-East Asia, with persistent gaps in access, awareness, and quality of care carrying substantial social and economic costs.
This report examines the femtech landscape in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, highlighting market trends, emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, and the evolving support ecosystem.
It identifies key challenges facing femtech founders, including limited access to finance, low awareness and persistent stigma, marketing constraints linked to content moderation, and gaps in tailored ecosystem support.
Led by Stephanie Willson, MD, of the IVI RMA Global Research Alliance, the study explored whether embryos that show certain chromosome abnormalities during genetic testing may still have the potential to result in a healthy pregnancy and live birth.
The research analysed more than 7,600 frozen embryo transfers and found that some embryos previously considered unlikely to succeed were still capable of leading to successful pregnancies, although at lower rates than embryos without abnormalities.
The findings could help fertility clinics and patients make more informed decisions during IVF treatment, particularly in cases where there are limited embryos available.
Rather than automatically discarding these embryos, the research supports a more evidence-based and personalised approach to fertility care.
For many women, perimenopause can feel confusing and unpredictable, with limited research explaining what is happening in their bodies.
Natural Cycles set out to change that by leading one of the largest studies ever conducted on menstrual and ovulatory patterns, uncovering new insights into how ovulation behaves as women approach menopause.
Conducted in collaboration with researchers from George Washington University, Seattle Clinical Research Center, Gennev and the University of California San Diego, the study analysed nearly one million menstrual cycles from more than 197,000 women aged 18–52 across more than 140 countries.
The scale of this dataset made it possible to explore menstrual patterns and ovulation in far greater detail than has traditionally been possible in women’s health research.
The Femtech World Awards celebrates the innovators, researchers and organisations driving meaningful progress in women’s health.
What happens next
Winners across all categories will be revealed during the virtual ceremony on June 19, with winners receiving a trophy and an interview with a Femtech World journalist.
Women over 40 are seeking raves for mental and physical wellbeing, with a study suggesting the benefits go beyond nightlife.
The findings challenge the idea that nightlife and electronic dance music events are mainly for younger people.
Published in Psychology of Music, the study focused on the common misconception that nightlife is only for younger audiences.
Researchers surveyed 136 female clubbers aged 40 to 65 about their experiences at electronic dance music events.
The study, carried out at the University of Leeds in England, found women reported mental and physical wellbeing benefits from attending these events.
Seeing favourite DJs was the most common motivation, but many women also described dancing as a way to relieve stress and find emotional support.
The research found that 65.9 per cent of participants described attending a rave as “spiritual”, while 62.9 per cent said it offered an escape from everyday life.
A further 58.3 per cent said they felt like a different version of themselves in a club environment.
Nine in ten participants said they felt at home at electronic dance music events, with many pointing to a shared passion for music and the sense of community around it.
The study also suggested physical fitness played a role, with some women saying they had made clubbing part of their regular exercise routine.
However, the findings also highlighted challenges for older women in nightlife spaces.
One fifth of participants said they felt visibly out of place because of their age.
Nearly half reported unwanted physical contact, leading some to seek out different venues or attend only with friends.
Osteoporosis may raise the risk of death in postmenopausal women by up to 47 per cent, a new study suggests.
The findings point to an inverse relationship between femoral bone mineral density and mortality risk, especially within certain ranges.
Femoral bone mineral density is the amount of mineral in the thigh bone, which is often measured to assess bone strength and osteoporosis risk.
Dr Monica Christmas is associate medical director for The Menopause Society.
She said: “Osteoporosis often remains a silent threat after menopause, despite its profound effect on women’s lives—from loss of height, poor balance, and reduced mobility to disfigurement, pain, and even premature death.
“Early screening and preventive measures, including a calcium-rich diet (preferably from food sources), regular weight-bearing exercise, and hormone therapy when appropriate, can significantly improve bone health and reduce risks not only of fractures but also cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and dementia.
“It’s time we bring this conversation to the forefront.”
In the study involving nearly 3,000 postmenopausal women, bone mineral density at four femoral sites was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, a scan commonly used to measure bone strength and fracture risk.
The analysis found that mortality risk was significantly higher when femoral bone mineral density reached the osteoporotic threshold or when osteoporotic fractures were present.
After full adjustment, osteoporosis was associated with a 47 per cent increased risk of mortality.
A stronger inverse association between increased bone mineral density and mortality risk was seen within specific ranges, suggesting bone mineral density could serve as a prognostic marker of wider health.
The relationship appeared especially notable within the range of 0.46 to 0.71 g/cm² for total femur bone mineral density.
Previous research has shown that postmenopausal women face a significantly higher risk of death within one year of hip or vertebral fractures.
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