Women and Traumatic Brain Injuries
While a traumatic brain injury has the potential to impact anyone’s life in a drastic and permanent way, it is essential to examine the impacts that these injuries can have on women in particular. These can range from mental health or mood disorders all the way to issues with reproductive function. Therefore, it is vital to understand this diverse array of potential impacts. Through this, not only the individual but also their friends and family can be prepared.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Female Mental Health
Women who suffer a traumatic brain injury have the potential to develop problems related to their mood and mental health. The mood is regulated by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. These two organs work together to release hormones that regulate mood and mental health. If this axis is derailed, it could lead to mood disorders, including PTSD. Because men and women have different axes, traumatic brain injuries can produce different symptoms in men and women. Recently, the endocrine society published a study demonstrating that women are at greater risk of developing mood problems than men. These mood disorders could lead to problems including depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health problems that could impact everyday life.
Statistics on Female Mental Health
According to the Chartbook on Mental Health, some important statistics regarding women and mental health include:
- Close to 50 percent of women have felt symptoms of a mood or mental health disorder at some point in their life.
- Almost a quarter of all women have reported feeling symptoms of depression.
- Over 30 percent of women report dealing with anxiety on a regular basis.
- Over 15 percent of women have admitted to using illicit substances or to taking prescription medications not prescribed to them.
These statistics should serve as an eye-opener to the problems that mental health issues can cause in women. Traumatic brain injuries in women can increase the risk of developing a mental health disorder.
Reproductive Problems Following a Traumatic Brain Injury
Women who are diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury could also develop problems with their reproductive system. Recently, a study was published that details how women could have difficulty sustaining regular periods following a traumatic brain injury. This comes from damage to the parts of the brain which help to modulate reproductive hormones, such as FSH and LH. Without regular periods, it can be challenging to become pregnant, inhibiting the ability of women to have children. Many couples desire children and the inability to conceive can be heartbreaking for a family. It is important for these brain injuries to be diagnosed and treated quickly to provide an opportunity for a full recovery.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Female Mental Health
Fertility and conception is an important issue that is often overlooked by society. Even for couples with no fertility issues, conceiving can be a challenge. According to statistics from SpecifiCare:
- The chance that a couple with no fertility problems will conceive in their first month of trying is only 20 percent.
- This chance drops to 5 percent is one of the partners has a fertility issue.
- If both partners have fertility issues, the overall chances drop to 1 percent.
Based on these statistics, the average time for a couple with one fertility issue to conceive is over 2 years. If both partners have problems with fertility, this number increases to 7 years. Clearly, a woman who suffers fertility issues following neurological trauma can have difficulty conceiving.
Contact an Experienced Attorney Today
When women suffer a traumatic brain injury, it can adversely impact their own life and the lives of their families. This can create a stressful situation for everyone involved. In tough times, meeting with an experienced Sacramento Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney can be helpful. These situations can feel overwhelming; however, nobody should feel alone because someone is always willing to listen. Contact us today at (916) 921-6400.
Image Citation: The photo at the beginning of this article can be found on Unsplash and has been reproduced on this site with permission.
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