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The Association Between Maternal Progesterone Use During Pregnancy and Offspring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Elham Bidabadi1, Seyedeh Hajar Sharami2, Seyyedeh Azade Hoseini Nouri1
1Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Insights
Progesterone use during pregnancy does not appear to be linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, contrary to some animal studies. However, continuous progesterone exposure throughout pregnancy may require further investigation for potential associations.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Pediatric Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Animal studies suggested a link between progesterone and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Clinical data on progesterone's effect on ADHD risk in children is limited.
- Understanding prenatal factors influencing neurodevelopmental disorders is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clinically investigate the association between maternal progesterone use during pregnancy and the risk of ADHD in offspring.
- To compare progesterone exposure patterns between children with ADHD and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Prospective case-control study including 97 children with ADHD and 194 matched controls.
- Maternal progesterone use (suppositories, injections) during pregnancy was assessed.
- Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS to compare groups.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in overall progesterone use between ADHD and control groups.
- Continuous progesterone use throughout all pregnancy trimesters was more frequent in ADHD cases (20.0% vs. 4.2%).
- Cesarean delivery and lower maternal education were more common in the ADHD group.
Conclusions:
- Maternal progesterone use during pregnancy is not significantly associated with ADHD development in children.
- Prolonged progesterone exposure throughout pregnancy warrants further investigation for a potential association.
- Findings contrast with some animal model data, highlighting the need for human clinical studies.
Objective:
Previous animal studies have suggested a link between progesterone exposure and the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study clinically evaluated the effect of progesterone use during pregnancy on the risk of ADHD in children.
Methods:
In this prospective case-control study, 97 children diagnosed with ADHD and 194 age- and sex-matched controls were included. Maternal progesterone use-via suppositories or injections-during pregnancy was assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS.
Results:
The mean age was slightly higher in the ADHD group, but not significantly. Male predominance was observed among ADHD cases, although not statistically significant. While neonatal hospitalization rates were similar, the duration was longer in the ADHD group (p = .009). Cesarean delivery and lower maternal education levels were significantly more common in the ADHD group (p = .004 and p = .013, respectively). No significant difference in overall progesterone use was found between ADHD and control groups (17.5% vs. 19.1%; p = .749). Injectable progesterone was used in 5.2% of ADHD cases and 10.8% of controls (p = .130), and the timing of use across pregnancy trimesters did not differ significantly (p = .493). Vaginal suppository use was also comparable (15.5% vs. 12.4%; p = .465). However, continuous progesterone use throughout all trimesters was more frequently reported among ADHD cases (20.0% vs. 4.2%), suggesting a possible association that needs further investigation.
Conclusion:
Unlike findings from animal models, progesterone use during pregnancy does not appear to be associated with ADHD development. Still, prolonged exposure may warrant further investigation.
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