Relationships between perineal pain and postpartum depressive symptoms: A prospective cohort study

The relationship between concurrent or previous postnatal pain and depressive symptoms remains controversial. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has used validated measures and multiple scales to evaluate perineal pain, or examined its relationship with depressive symptoms during the postpartum period.

We investigated the association between pain and previous postnatal pain with depression during the 6-month postpartum period, and the influence of previous postnatal depressive symptoms.

A prospective cohort study design was used.

Maternity unit of a medical center.

This study included 432 participants; data regarding demographic characteristics, perineal pain, and any pain and depression during the 6-month postpartum period were collected.

Pain and depressive symptoms were measured using the Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, respectively. A generalized estimating equation was used to examine factors associated with postpartum depression.

After adjusting for covariates, women who had perineal pain at 4-6 weeks postpartum showed an increased risk for depression at 4-6 weeks (risk ratio [RR]: 1.9, 95% confidence limits [CL]: 1.2, 3.2) and 6 months (RR: 1.9, 95% CL: 1.1, 3.3) compared to those with no perineal pain. Perineal pain severity, 4-6 weeks postpartum, also predicted depressive symptoms at 6 months postpartum (β=0.63, p=0.02). Any pain intensity score at 3-5 days postpartum predicted depression at 3 months (β=0.01, p=0.04). Women with high depression scores at 3-5 days had a two- or three-fold higher risk for depression at 4-6 weeks and 3 and 6 months, respectively, compared to those with low depression scores (RR: 3.5, 95% CL: 2.2, 5.4; RR: 2.2, 95% CL: 1.3, 3.4; and RR: 2.8, 95% CL: 1.7, 4.8, respectively).

Our study provides robust evidence that perineal pain 4-6 weeks postpartum is associated with depressive symptoms 4-6 weeks and 6 months postpartum; pain at 3-5 days postpartum predicts depressive symptoms at 3 months postpartum; and previous postnatal depressive symptoms, particularly depressive symptoms 3-5 days postpartum, predict depressive symptoms during the 6-month postpartum period.