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Published on: 7/15/2026

Are there specific reasons why women might feel tired all the time?

Women often experience persistent tiredness due to hormonal shifts, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or disrupted sleep from breastfeeding—all of which can drain energy over time. Certain health conditions, such as depression and iron deficiency anemia, can affect anyone but are more common in women and frequently cause ongoing fatigue.

Because chronic tiredness can stem from many overlapping causes—hormonal, nutritional, emotional, or medical—guessing the reason often delays relief. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you quickly identify possible causes based on your unique situation, so you can take informed next steps and talk with a healthcare provider with confidence.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

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Explanation

Women can feel tired all the time for various possible reasons.

One reason is pregnancy.

Another reason is related to post-childbirth changes. After having a baby, women often experience weeks of changes in energy levels and fatigue. This is a time when the body is recovering and adjusting to new demands. Postpartum depression after childbirth is common and one symptom of postpartum depression is fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

Breastfeeding is also a factor that can lead to tiredness. Taking care of a newborn and breastfeeding can be very demanding and tiring for new mothers. This is because breastfeeding requires a lot of energy, and new mothers often have disrupted sleep patterns.

Some health conditions (including depression and iron deficiency anemia) can affect both men and women, but are more likely to affect women. One type of depression called "subsyndromal symptomatic depression" is a milder form of depression that still affects energy and mood. This type of depression might not be as obvious as more severe forms but can still make someone feel very tired.

If you or someone you know is feeling very tired and it is affecting daily life, it's important to talk to a healthcare provider. You can also use Ubie's free AI symptom checker to help identify potential causes of your fatigue and understand when to seek medical care.

(References)

  • Judd LL, Rapaport MH, Paulus MP, & Brown JL. (1994). Subsyndromal symptomatic depression: a new mood .... The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 8077164.

  • Troy NW. (1999). A comparison of fatigue and energy levels at 6 weeks .... Clinical nursing research, 10887866.

  • Callahan S, Séjourné N, & Denis A. (2006). Fatigue and breastfeeding: an inevitable partnership?. Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association, 16684906.

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