Using BHRT to Help Patients Combat Seasonal Depression

Seasonal depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), affects countless people during the fall and winter months when natural light exposure decreases and hormones begin to shift.

Pellecome, founded by Dr. Enrique G. Jacome, offers a natural solution through Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), which may help balance the hormones that make seasonal depression worse. 

The Link Between Hormones and Seasonal Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is linked to the body’s hormonal response to reduced daylight exposure. 

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that stabilizes mood. It often decreases with reduced sunlight exposure. Lower serotonin levels are associated with symptoms of depression, including sadness, fatigue, and lack of motivation. Studies show that individuals with SAD exhibit lower serotonin activity in winter months, which exacerbates depressive symptoms.¹

Melatonin levels start to increase as daylight hours shorten. The pineal gland responds to the increased darkness by producing more melatonin because it thinks it’s time for your body to sleep. In people with SAD, melatonin levels can be abnormally high during winter and contribute to lethargy, disrupted sleep, and low energy.²

As melatonin levels rise, they can begin to suppress estrogen.³ Estrogen directly influences serotonin production and receptor sensitivity. When estrogen levels decline, serotonin activity may also decrease, making individuals more susceptible to mood disturbances, especially in winter.⁴ 

Similarly, testosterone has mood-enhancing effects, and low levels are associated with fatigue, irritability, and depressive symptoms.⁵ During winter, testosterone levels can dip slightly due to seasonal shifts in activity and sunlight exposure.

Together, these hormonal changes create a cycle of low energy, poor mood, and motivation struggles in winter. Supporting hormone balance, such as through BHRT, may help stabilize these mood-related shifts during the darker months.

How Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy Can Help

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) provides a steady supply of estrogen, testosterone, and other hormones. It may prove to be a valuable treatment to counteract seasonal depression symptoms in patients.

For healthcare professionals, Pellecome offers a streamlined approach to BHRT with our high-quality pellets and easy-to-use insertion system. The pellets are compact, about the size of a grain of rice, and designed for quick, in-office procedures. We wanted our BHRT pellets to be accessible to a variety of practices, from alternative medicine clinics to medspas.

Explore BHRT Solutions with Pellecome

Pellecome’s Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy gives healthcare providers a safe way to support their patients who may be struggling with seasonal depression. 

To learn more about how Pellecome can support your practice and enhance your patient care, call Pellecome at 888-773-9969 to explore becoming a BHRT provider today.

1. Lambert GW, Reid C, Kaye DM, Jennings GL, Esler MD. Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain. Lancet [Internet]. 2002;360(9348):1840–2. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(02)11737-5 
2. Rosenthal NE, Sack DA, Jacobsen FM, James SP, Parry BL, Arendt J, et al. Melatonin in seasonal affective disorder and phototherapy. J Neural Transm Suppl. 1986;21:257–67. 
3. Starr J. The effect of melatonin on the ovaries. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences [Internet]. 2011 [cited 2024 Nov 7];5(1):6. Available from: https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol5/iss1/6 
4. Hernández-Hernández OT, Martínez-Mota L, Herrera-Pérez JJ, Jiménez-Rubio G. Role of estradiol in the expression of genes involved in serotonin neurotransmission: Implications for female depression. Curr Neuropharmacol [Internet]. 2019;17(5):459–71. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159×16666180628165107 
5. Walther A, Breidenstein J, Miller R. Association of testosterone treatment with alleviation of depressive symptoms in men: A systematic review and meta-analysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2024 Nov 7];76(1):31–40. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2712976