ABSTRACT
The several stages of reproductive and hormonal cycles that women go through make them more vulnerable than men to psychological stress and, therefore, to psychiatric emergencies as well. Severe psychiatric illness can occur for the first time during pregnancy, but the episode is more commonly a recurrence of a pre-existing mental disorder, such as bipolar affective disorder or schizophrenia. The assessment of risk of suicide starts with a full psychiatric evaluation of the woman. Therapeutic abortions and spontaneous pregnancy losses are often lumped together when the relationship between pregnancy loss and mental health is considered. Women may experience either an anxiety disorder of new onset or an exacerbation of an existing anxiety disorder in the postpartum period. While data indicate no increase in serious psychiatric sequelae, the risk of depression after a therapeutic termination is greater among women who have a history of psychiatric illness, feel coerced into the termination, are ambivalent about the termination, and have limited social support.
