Premenstrual symptoms are associated with psychological and physical symptoms in early pregnancy

Abstract

The reproductive life of women is characterised by a number of distinct reproductive events and phases (e.g. premenstrual phase, peripartum, perimenopause). The hormonal transitions during these phases are often associated with both psychological and physical symptoms. Associations between these reproductive phases have been shown by numerous studies. However, the relationship between symptoms during the premenstrual phase and during early pregnancy has received little attention thus far, although early pregnancy is a time of dramatic hormonal as well as physical adaptation. Findings are based on a prospective longitudinal study with N = 306 pregnant women (MARI study). Three hundred five women that had menstrual bleeding in the year before pregnancy rated the severity of psychological and physical symptoms during premenstrual phases in the year preceding pregnancy. Besides this, they rated the severity of the same symptoms during early pregnancy (weeks 10 to 12 of gestation). The overall severity of premenstrual symptoms was significantly associated with the overall severity of early pregnancy symptoms (b = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.3-0.5; p < 0.001). The overall severity of early pregnancy symptoms was best predicted by the severity of premenstrual irritability. The best predictor for a particular symptom in early pregnancy mostly was the corresponding premenstrual symptom. The associations between premenstrual and early pregnancy symptoms support the reproductive hormone sensitivity hypothesis that some women are prone to repeatedly experience specific psychological and physical symptoms during different reproductive phases. The findings further imply that the nature of symptoms might be rather consistent between different reproductive phases.

Associated symptoms of depression: patterns of change during pregnancy

“…Also, Fan et al (2009) found that rates of anxiety and depression were higher in the first trimester than later in pregnancy and that depression was correlated with changes in estradiol and progesterone level, and anxiety was correlated with total cortisol level. Winkel et al (2013) found, in a general population, that premenstrual symptoms were associated with both psychological and physical symptoms in the first pregnancy trimester. They concluded that this finding supports the hormonal sensitivity hypothesis, that some women are prone to experience specific psychological and physical symptoms during different reproductive phases.…”

Associated symptoms of depression: patterns of change during pregnancy

“…Also, Fan et al (2009) found that rates of anxiety and depression were higher in the first trimester than later in pregnancy and that depression was correlated with changes in estradiol and progesterone level, and anxiety was correlated with total cortisol level. Winkel et al (2013) found, in a general population, that premenstrual symptoms were associated with both psychological and physical symptoms in the first pregnancy trimester. They concluded that this finding supports the hormonal sensitivity hypothesis, that some women are prone to experience specific psychological and physical symptoms during different reproductive phases.…”

“…There is considerable interest in examining these and other periods of marked hormonal change (e.g. pubertal, menopause) to gain insight into the possible hormonal basis of psychiatric symptoms, both prior to and past the perinatal period (Winkel et al 2013). …”

Psychische Störungen bei Frauen: Verlauf und Besonderheiten im Zusammenhang mit den reproduktiven Phasen

“…B. erhöhte Reizbarkeit, Schlafstörungen oder depressive Verstimmung [12]. So berichteten Frauen, die prämenstruell primär unter Reizbarkeit litten, ebenfalls eine erhöhte Reizbarkeit in der Frühschwangerschaft [13]. Darüber hinaus wurden PMS und PMDS als Risikofaktoren für das spätere Auftreten von postpartalen und perimenopausalen depressiven Episoden beschrieben.…”