Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 8 U.S. women and often begins in the weeks after childbirth when estrogen and progesterone fall abruptly. Researchers have identified epigenetic methylation patterns in two estrogen-sensitive genes (HP1BP3 and TTC9B) that predicted postpartum depression with >80% accuracy in multiple studies. A commercial assay, myLuma, aims to combine those markers with other signals and may become available at select clinics in early 2026, though it is not yet FDA-approved. Parallel research on neuroactive steroids and other blood-based signals and the availability of rapid-acting drugs (brexanolone and zuranolone) raise the possibility of earlier intervention and reduced stigma.
Predicting Postpartum Depression: A New Blood Test, Hormone Clues, and Faster Treatments
Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 8 U.S. women and often begins in the weeks after childbirth when estrogen and progesterone fall abruptly. Researchers have identified epigenetic methylation patterns in two estrogen-sensitive genes (HP1BP3 and TTC9B) that predicted postpartum depression with >80% accuracy in multiple studies. A commercial assay, myLuma, aims to combine those markers with other signals and may become available at select clinics in early 2026, though it is not yet FDA-approved. Parallel research on neuroactive steroids and other blood-based signals and the availability of rapid-acting drugs (brexanolone and zuranolone) raise the possibility of earlier intervention and reduced stigma.
08:08 PM, 11/19/2025Health
Lisette Lopez-Rose, a first-time mother from the San Francisco Bay Area, expected joy after childbirth but instead experienced panic attacks and a persistent, immobilizing sadness. For months she hesitated to tell her doctor, fearing judgment or even losing custody of her child. After finding an online peer network and eventually seeking medical help, Lopez-Rose began medication and, within weeks, felt like she was "coming out of a deep hole." Today she coordinates volunteers to support new mothers online.
Why postpartum depression matters
Postpartum depression affects roughly 1 in 8 women in the United States and is among the most common complications of childbirth. It most often appears in the weeks after delivery, coinciding with a sharp fall in reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. While many new mothers experience transient "baby blues," a smaller but significant group develops deeper, longer-lasting depression that can disrupt caregiving and family life.
Biomarkers and a predictive blood test
Researchers studying how hormones influence the brain have identified epigenetic patterns — chemical tags called methylation — on two estrogen-sensitive genes, HP1BP3 and TTC9B, that predict postpartum depression with more than 80% accuracy in multiple studies. These methylation differences were detectable in blood samples across pregnancy, suggesting the possibility of early risk screening.
A San Diego startup, Dionysus Health, plans to commercialize a blood-based assay called myLuma that uses those epigenetic markers plus additional biomarkers to forecast a pregnant woman's risk of postpartum depression. The company has announced plans to begin offering the test in some clinics in Florida, Texas and California beginning January 2026. The test is not yet FDA-approved; it is currently offered as a laboratory-developed test that clinicians can use to inform care.
Other biological leads
Not everyone who develops postpartum depression shows the HP1BP3/TTC9B methylation signature, so researchers are pursuing other biological signals. One promising avenue is neuroactive steroids — brain-derived metabolites of progesterone such as allopregnanolone, pregnanolone, and isoallopregnanolone. Allopregnanolone tends to rise during pregnancy and fall after delivery and acts on the GABA-A receptor to reduce stress. Imbalances among these steroids during pregnancy were associated with higher postpartum depression risk in a 2025 study of 136 women.
Other preliminary findings include differences in RNA carried in extracellular vesicles and altered plasma protein patterns linked to neuronal function and inflammation — all potential complements to epigenetic and steroid-based predictors.
Rapid-acting treatments and prevention possibilities
Advances in treatment have followed the biological discoveries. A synthetic analog of allopregnanolone, brexanolone, was approved in 2019 and marked the first drug developed specifically for postpartum depression; an oral successor, zuranolone, was approved in 2023. These agents can act quickly, offering a different approach from conventional antidepressants.
If reliable predictive testing becomes widely available, clinicians might be able to offer targeted preventive strategies for high-risk patients — for example, closer monitoring, early psychosocial support, or prompt medication after delivery — though preventive drug use has not yet been proven in trials.
Ongoing research and clinical validation
Investigators including Dr. Jennifer Payne and Dr. Zachary Kaminsky are conducting larger clinical trials to better define myLuma's predictive performance, including false positive and false negative rates. Those data will be critical for broader regulatory review and for guiding how best to use such tests in clinical practice.
"A predictive test could help clinicians and families get ahead of suffering," says reproductive psychiatrist Samantha Meltzer-Brody, noting that early identification may reduce stigma and speed access to effective care.
What this means for families
For mothers like Lopez-Rose, a validated predictive test could provide an early warning and a clear reason to ask for help, making the symptoms less shocking and isolating. Still, experts emphasize that biomarkers are only one piece of a complex puzzle — comprehensive care will continue to include clinical assessment, psychosocial support, and personalized treatment decisions.
Key takeaways: promising biomarkers (epigenetic and steroid-based) are moving toward clinical tools; rapid-acting therapies exist and are expanding options; and ongoing trials will clarify how best to use tests like myLuma to improve outcomes for new mothers and families.