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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
Relationship between psychological stress and recurrent miscarriage.
W Li1, J Newell-Price, G L Jones
1Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Dept Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S102SF, UK. leeweiwater@yahoo.com.cn
Reproductive Biomedicine Online
|June 13, 2012
Summary
Psychological stress is a significant risk factor for recurrent miscarriage (RM). However, moderate stress levels in women with RM may be linked to better pregnancy outcomes, suggesting a complex relationship.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Women's Health
Background:
- Stress responses, including hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, can influence reproductive function.
- Understanding the interplay between psychological stress and recurrent miscarriage (RM) is crucial for improving reproductive health outcomes.
- Previous research suggests a potential link between stress biomarkers and pregnancy establishment, but the specific impact on RM requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between psychological stress and recurrent miscarriage (RM).
- To examine the impact of stress on pregnancy establishment in women experiencing RM.
- To compare stress levels and biomarkers between women with unexplained RM and fertile controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized validated questionnaires: Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.
- Assessed peripheral natural killer (NK) cells and cortisol levels as biological stress indicators.
- Compared psychological and biochemical stress measures between 45 women with unexplained RM and 40 fertile controls.
Main Results:
- Women with unexplained RM exhibited significantly higher scores on FPI, PSS, and Negative Affect, and lower scores on Positive Affect compared to controls.
- A subset of women with RM who achieved live births showed significantly lower Positive Affect scores than those who miscarried.
- Minimal association was observed between psychological stress measures and biochemical stress markers.
Conclusions:
- Psychological stress is identified as a risk factor contributing to recurrent miscarriage.
- Within the RM population, a moderate level of psychological stress appears potentially associated with improved pregnancy outcomes.
- The findings highlight the complex role of stress in reproductive health and suggest nuanced implications for managing RM.
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