Ketamine and Women's Health: PMS, PMDD, and Bone Density

Women across the world have unique hormonal challenges not shared by men due to significant fluctuations in sex hormones throughout their lifespans. These fluctuations in estrogen, in particular, have immense impacts on depression, mood, and musculoskeletal health, including muscle mass and bone health. Learn how IV ketamine therapy connects the dots between these critical determinants of women's health. Specifically, learn how IV Ketamine may be specifically indicated in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), depression and osteoporosis.

Estrogen and Mental Health, Physical Health

Estrogen is an important hormone in maintaining our mental and physical health. Fluctuations in estrogen levels affects many health conditions, including:

• Depression and anxiety
• Cognition and brain health
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
• Soft tissue quality and collagen content
• Muscle mass
• Bone health
• Quality of life

All of these conditions are linked by their connection of the nervous system and immune system. High inflammatory load, both in the brain and body, contribute to breakdown of our mental and physical health.

Estrogen and ketamine are critical links between physical and mental health

Ketamine and PMS and PMDD

Ketamine induces rapid fluctuations in key neurotransmitters in the brain. One particular neurotransmitter, called glutamate, appears heavily affected by fluctuations in estrogen. Ketamine's effects in rebalancing glutamate activity may explain the positive effects observed in women struggling with PMS and PMDD. While clinical experience of ketamine with PMS and PMDD is promising, formal research is also underway with the FDA.

Furthermore, ketamine itself binds to estrogen receptors (specifically ERα). This is the key "anti-neuro-inflammatory" receptor through which estradiol provides anti-inflammatory effects and reduces free radical damage. Unsurprisingly, activation of this estrogen receptor appears critical to ketamine's antidepressant effects, suggesting a powerful connection between sex hormones and our mental wellbeing. Given the serious effects of ongoing inflammation on our mental health, including PMS and PMDD, this anti-inflammatory effect is critical to ketamine's beneficial effects.

Estrogen, Ketamine, and Bone Health

Estrogen is a critical signal to maintain bone density and this is why osteoporosis is a major risk of premature menopause. Many factors influence estrogen's effects on bone (and muscle) health, including mental health and depression. This is for many reasons:

• Estrogen depletion can predispose to depression
• There is a causal relationship between depression and loss of muscle strength (sarcopenia)
• Inflammation can directly contribute to both depression, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis
  • Estrogen and Ketamine both exert anti-inflammatory effects
• Chronic stress can also contribute to both depression and osteoporosis
  • Stress steroids like cortisol (in addition to sex steroids) have direct effects on bone mineral density, muscle wasting, and mood
• Traditional antidepressants are a risk factor for decreased bone density and fractures (serotonin transporters in bones may be the cause of this)
• Ketamine infusions can directly modulate key brain-bone hormones that relieve depression and support bone density
• IV Ketamine's anti-inflammatory effects may also reduce inflammatory-induced bone mineral loss

Numerous hormones link brain health with muscle and bone health, including oxytocin, sclerostin, osteopontin, myokines, as well as the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. IV Ketamine infusion therapy can increase some of these pro-bone hormones and decrease bone-depleting hormones for several weeks.

This is why IV Ketamine is an important treatment option in women with combinations of PMS, PMDD, depression, and osteoporosis.

Stellate Ganglion Block and Hot Flashes

The Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) also reduces inflammation and unbalanced nervous system load. Hot flashes, for example, appear to result from dysregulated estrogen responses in the hypothalamus of the brain and throughout the nervous system. Unsurprisingly, SGB can rebalance temperature settings in these key brain regions to relieve this temperature dysregulation.

Support Your Brain and Bone Health Today

Optimizing hormone health is vital to healing the root causes of emotional and physical pain. Speak with Clarus Health to learn the benefits and risks of IV Ketamine for PMS, PMDD, depression, and bone health, as well as SGB for hot flashes. Schedule a free consultation with Clarus Health to learn if IV Ketamine, SGB, or NAD+ may be effective in healing your PMS, PMDD, depression, or other hormone-related conditions.