In a nutshell
This study investigated if stress is associated with pregnancy outcomes in women with unexplained infertility.
They found that stress was associated with a higher risk of negative pregnancy outcomes.
Some background
Infertility is a growing problem worldwide. Understanding the cause of infertility can allow doctors to treat it. In some cases, the cause is not clear. This is called unexplained infertility (UI). UI affects many women. One potential cause of infertility may be stress. Stress can affect a number of the body’s systems. It can disrupt hormone levels. This can have a negative effect on the brain, heart or gut, and many organs. It can also weaken the immune system. All of these effects are called the allostatic load (AL).
A high AL may affect pregnancy outcomes. It is unclear if AL before pregnancy is linked to negative pregnancy outcomes in women with UI.
Methods & findings
This study included 836 women with UI. These women underwent ovarian stimulation (OS) before becoming pregnant. AL was measured before OS. A number of measurements were used to calculate AL. These included blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI) and standard blood biochemistry. Pregnancy outcomes were the main outcome.
A higher AL was associated with a 62% higher risk of pre-eclampsia (a complication in pregnancy involving high blood pressure and signs of damage to other organs). A high AL was also associated with a 44% higher risk of pre-term birth and a 39% higher risk of low baby birth weight.
AL was not associated with fertility outcomes such as conception and live birth rates.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that stress was associated with a higher risk of negative pregnancy outcomes in women with unexplained infertility undergoing ovarian stimulation.
The fine print
These findings may not be applicable to fertile women. Also, the effect of AL on women with other types of infertility is unknown. More research is needed.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding stress and infertility please consult with your physician.
Published By :
Human Reproduction
Date :
Sep 01, 2018
