Mental health matters too: Gynaecological symptoms and depression in South Asia

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Abstract
The intersection of reproductive and mental health, though extensively studied in developed countries, has rarely been researched in developing countries, particularly in South Asia. This article examines the intersection of gynaecological symptoms and depression, focusing on the South Asian region. Depression is one of the most common and most disabling disorders worldwide. This article reviews the evidence of the high prevalence of depression in women in South Asia. Gynaecological symptoms, in terms of self-reported complaints such as vaginal discharge, are among the most commonly cited health problems in women in South Asia. Although much earlier research assumed this symptom to be indicative of reproductive tract infections, recent studies show considerable discordance between symptoms and actual disease. Depression typically presents in the form of medically unexplained physical symptoms. Rates of depression are high in women attending gynaecological clinics and qualitative studies demonstrat...