A Blood Test to predict the risk of Postpartum Depression: Conversation with Dr. Jennifer Payne, rebroadcast

Postpartum depression is the most common complication of pregnancy.

Given our current ability to measure it we think it will affect 10-15% of pregnancies, but it can be a tricky condition to diagnose because in the past, diagnosis has depended on the postpartum person answering a survey meant to identify it, or recognizing the condition in themselves and seeking help.

There are relatable reasons why women may not answer this survey in a way that reflects their true feelings, and it may be a real challenge to catch it in yourself given everything else a postpartum mother is doing.

But these obstacles to diagnosis are changing.

I interviewed this researcher when she was working on securing FDA approval of her blood test that can use biomarkers to predict the risk of PPD before symptoms arise. Now that test is available in limited release for clinical use in select states: California, Texas and Florida. It's called myLuma. I’m re releasing this episode, originally released last summer, so that you can get a sense of some of the science underlying this potentially pregnancy changing test.

MyLuma: https://myluma.health/

Note: I have no connection with this company, but am so excited to see progress on physical tests for depression, especially in the context of pregnancy.