Association between Disgust Sensitivity during Pregnancy and Endogenous Steroids: A Longitudinal Study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Neuroendocrinology
• Psychoneuroimmunology

Background:

• Disgust sensitivity is an emotion that protects against pathogens.
• Disgust sensitivity is often heightened during pregnancy.
• Hormonal changes, including immune markers and progesterone, are implicated in pregnancy-related disgust alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between steroid hormone levels and disgust sensitivity in pregnant women.
• To explore how these associations change across trimesters of pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• Prospective longitudinal study of 179 pregnant women.
• Analysis of blood serum steroid concentrations.
• Measurement of disgust sensitivity using text-based questionnaires in the first and third trimesters.

Main Results:

• Positive correlations found between disgust sensitivity and C19 steroids (testosterone, DHEA, androstenedione) and their precursors in both Δ4 and Δ5 pathways.
• Associations observed with 5α/β-reduced C19 steroid metabolites, 17-hydroxypregnanolone, and some estrogens in the first trimester.
• Third-trimester findings included positive associations with cortisol and immunoprotective Δ5 C19 7α/β-hydroxy-steroids.

Conclusions:

• Disgust sensitivity during pregnancy is positively correlated with immunomodulatory steroids.
• In the third trimester, disgust sensitivity is associated with steroids potentially linked to maternal anxiety.
• Hormonal shifts during pregnancy significantly influence disgust sensitivity, highlighting a complex interplay.