Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer

Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer

Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...

Stress and Mental Health

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.

Physiological Foundation of Stress

Physiological Foundation of Stress

Stress triggers a coordinated physiological response involving the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This dual activation ensures that the body is prepared for both immediate and prolonged stress management. The process begins with the perception of a stressor. This initial phase activates the SNS, leading to the rapid release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands.
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Preterm Delivery; Who Is at Risk?

Journal of clinical medicine·2021

Same author

Association Between Mode of Delivery of the Breech Fetus and Hospitalizations Due to Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Childhood.

Journal of clinical gastroenterology·2021

Same author

Maternal prenatal smoking and long-term gastrointestinal morbidity of the offspring: A population-based cohort analysis.

Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)·2021

Same author

Hospitalizations Among Chernobyl-Exposed Immigrants to the Negev of Israel, 1992-2017: A Historical Follow-Up Study.

Journal of immigrant and minority health·2021

Same author

Condensation: A Retrospective Cohort Study to Investigate the Association Between Maternal Pre-pregnancy Obesity and Childhood Respiratory Disease.

Maternal and child health journal·2021

Same author

Can We Predict Preterm Delivery Based on the Previous Pregnancy?

Journal of clinical medicine·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Stress, immune function, and women's reproduction.

Pablo A Nepomnaschy¹, Eyal Sheiner, George Mastorakos

¹Epidemiology Branch, NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709-2233, USA. nepomnaschyp@niehs.nih.gov.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|November 6, 2007

Summary

Many women face unexplained infertility. New research explores how stress impacts the female reproductive system through the immune system, suggesting potential biological pathways for conception difficulties.

More Related Videos

The Trier Social Stress Test Protocol for Inducing Psychological Stress

The Trier Social Stress Test Protocol for Inducing Psychological Stress

Published on: October 19, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

The Trier Social Stress Test Protocol for Inducing Psychological Stress

The Trier Social Stress Test Protocol for Inducing Psychological Stress

Published on: October 19, 2011

Area of Science:

Reproductive Endocrinology
Psychoneuroimmunology
Women's Health

Background:

Only 23% of women achieve pregnancy in their first cycle.
A significant portion of failed conception attempts remain unexplained by known pathologies.
Stress is increasingly implicated in unexplained reproductive failures.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in understanding the relationship between stress, the immune system, and female reproduction.
To discuss the evolutionary origins of this connection.
To examine the biological pathways mediating these interactions.

Main Methods:

Review of experimental, clinical, and population-based research.
Analysis of recent scientific literature on stress and reproduction.
Exploration of proposed biological and evolutionary mechanisms.

Main Results:

Emerging evidence suggests a link between stress, immune function, and reproductive success.
Novel biological mechanisms are being identified that may explain the stress-infertility connection.
An evolutionary perspective offers insights into the stress-reproduction interplay.

Conclusions:

The interplay between stress, immunity, and reproduction warrants further investigation.
Understanding these biological pathways could lead to new approaches for addressing unexplained infertility.
Recent research provides a stronger foundation for evaluating the impact of stress on conception.