Does TMS Affect Men and Women Differently?

Depression is a serious mental health disorder that affects 17.3 million adults in the United States. However, women are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with a major depressive disorder as men. When considering your treatment options for depression you may wonder — does TMS affect men and women differently?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is an FDA approved non-invasive drug-free treatment for mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. TMS works by using an MRI magnet to deliver targeted magnetic pulses to areas of the brain associated with depression, anxiety, OCD, or other mental health conditions. 

Because it is believed that nerve cells in the brain are “misfiring,” TMS works to recalibrate those cells to get them to work more efficiently. TMS may stimulate cells that are under-active to treat depression, or to calm down overstimulated cells to treat anxiety. When the targeted nerve cells are working properly depression and anxiety symptoms are significantly reduced.

TMS therapy has provided meaningful improvement in symptoms for approximately 50-60% of people who have been unable to find relief from medication or other treatments. About a third of those who experienced a noticeable improvement had complete remission of depression symptoms for a year or more. Most individuals who receive TMS therapy feel better for several months.

While TMS therapy is a proven and effective treatment for depression, depression has many underlying causes — including external triggers, major life changes, stress, or hormonal fluctuations. Depressive symptoms may reoccur, which is why some people choose to undergo additional maintenance treatments.

Depression symptoms can manifest different in men and women. While there isn’t a significant difference in the experience of depression between the sexes, the expression of the symptoms can vary. It isn’t clear why men and women may express depression differently, but it likely involves several factors, including hormones, brain chemistry, and life experiences. Some signs of depression in both men and women include:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, or empty
• Feeling extremely tired
• Not getting pleasure from activities usually enjoyed
• Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

Every year, depression affects millions of people in the United States. Women account for the vast majority of these cases. One in every four women will experience a major depressive episode during her lifetime, making women twice as likely as men to develop depression. There is a clear gender gap in depression, caused by several factors that women face disproportionately more often than men.

• Body image issues
• Sexual Assault
• Domestic Abuse
• Workplace Issues

In addition to environmental triggers that account for higher rates of depression in women, physiological differences influence these rates, too. Hormonal fluctuations due to menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation can all make women more susceptible to depression.

Interestingly, there is a sex-based difference between men and women’s brains. One of the key differences in the brains of men and women are the rates of depression which tend to be higher in women than men. Because depressive symptoms are expressed differently between men and women it is a natural leap to ask does TMS therapy affect men and women differently. 

While studies are ongoing, current evidence indicates that TMS therapy affects men and women differently. One study involving a review of patient case histories indicated that, on average, 77% of women reported a significant reduction in depression symptoms. Whereas 65% of men reported similarly. Even though TMS therapy may be more effective for woman, it is still a viable treatment option for men with depression disorders.

If you are struggling with treatment-resistant depression, you can find relief from symptoms with TMS. MyTMS offers you the new non-invasive therapy for depression. Our professionals are leaders in the industry, and we use the most technologically advanced resources currently available to provide you with the best care possible. Contact us today so we can support you throughout your journey towards a happier life.