Perceived stress, reproductive hormones, and ovulatory function: a prospective cohort study
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2015
Publication Title
Epidemiology
Abstract
Background Stress has been shown to suppress ovulation in experimental models, but its effect on human reproduction at the population level is unclear. Methods Healthy women (n=259), aged 18–44 years from Western New York, were followed for two menstrual cycles (2005–2007). Women completed daily perceived stress assessments, a 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) up to four times each cycle, and a 14-item PSS at baseline. Mixed model analyses were used to assess effects of stress on log reproductive hormone concentrations and sporadic anovulation. Results High versus low daily stress was associated with lower estradiol (-9.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI)= -15.6% to -3.0%), free estradiol (-10.4% [-16.5% to -3.9%]), and LH (-14.8% = [-21.3% to -7.7%]), and higher FSH (6.2% [2.0% to 10.5%]) after adjusting for age, race, percent body fat, depression score, and time-varying hormones and vigorous exercise. High versus low daily stress was also associated with lower luteal progesterone (-10.4% [-19.7% to -0.10%]) and higher odds of anovulation (adjusted OR = 2.2 [95% CI=1.0 to 4.7]). For each unit increase in daily stress level, women had a 70% higher odds of an anovulatory episode (OR=1.7 [1.1 to 2.4]). Similar but attenuated results were found for the association between the PSS-4 and reproductive hormones, while null findings were found for the baseline PSS. Conclusion Daily perceived stress does appear to interfere with menstrual cycle function among women with no known reproductive disorders, warranting further research to explore potential population-level impacts and causal biologic mechanisms.
Recommended Citation
Schliep, K.C., Mumford, S.L., Vladutiu, C.J., Ahrens, K.A., Perkins, N.J., Prasad, A., Wactawski-Wende, J., & Schisterman, E.F. (2015). Perceived stress, reproductive hormones, and ovulatory function among premenopausal women in the BioCycleStudy. Epidemiology, 26(2),177-184.
Comments
Funded by the Intramural Research Program, National Insitute of Health, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (Contract Number: HHSN275200403394C). KS, SM, KA, NP, LS, KK, AP, and ES received support from the Intramural Research Program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of Health for the submitted work and CV received support from grant T32-HL007055, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.