Hormonal changes and somatopsychologic manifestations in the first trimester of pregnancy and post partum
Received 6 September 2008; received in revised form 15 November 2008; accepted 1 December 2008. published online 02 February 2009.
Refers to corrigendum:
Corrigendum to “Hormonal changes and somatopsychologic manifestations in the first trimester of pregnancy and post partum” [International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 105(2009) 46-49]
, 22 June 2009
Yuliang Zou, Fenling Fan, Aiquin Ma, Yafei Yue, Wenjun Mao, Xiancang Ma
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
October 2009 (Vol. 107, Issue 1, Page 87) Full Text |
Full-Text PDF (56 KB)
Abstract
Objective
To investigate links between psychologic distress and levels of maternal hormones and cortisol during pregnancy and post partum.
Method
The study population of 308 pregnant or recently delivered women was divided into 4 equal groups, 3 representing each pregnancy trimester and the fourth one representing the first week of the postpartum period. The women were screened for psychological distress and had blood drawn to measure serum levels of estradiol, progesterone, and total cortisol on the same day.
Results
The rates of anxiety and depression were higher in the first trimester and the postpartum groups. Depression was correlated with sharp changes in estradiol and progesterone levels; anxiety was correlated with total cortisol level; and there was a correlation between depression and anxiety.
Conclusion
Sharp changes in maternal hormone levels were correlated with depression; depression was correlated with anxiety; and anxiety was correlated with elevated cortisol levels, which may adversely affect the health of mother and offspring. Measuring maternal hormones may be a diagnostic tool to evaluate psychologic stress and associated risks.
aResearch Laboratory of Ion Channelopathy, Key Laboratory of Environment and Gene-related Diseases, National Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
bDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
cCenters of Maternal and Child Psychosomatic Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
dDepartment of Psychology and Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
Corresponding author. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, 710061. Tel./fax: +86 29 8532 4128.
ABSTRACT