ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the association among past traumatic events, high-risk pregnancy, delivery complications, and postpartum posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. METHODS: The final convenience sample consisted of 1071 Jewish women at midpregnancy. Data were gathered at three time points (during pregnancy and 1 month and 6 months after childbirth) through self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: There was a higher percentage of high-risk pregnancy among those who reported a history of traumatic events. Although the total score of PTS symptoms did not correspond with high-risk pregnancy, the intrusion and avoidance subscales did. Furthermore, a history of traumatic events as well as prenatal PTS symptoms, prenatal depression, and the subjective pain and distress during delivery accounted for postpartum PTS symptoms. Prenatal depression was found to account for delivery complications. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that a history of trauma should be considered a risk factor for high-risk pregnancy and for postpartum PTS symptoms.
Subject(s)
Obstetric Labor Complications/psychology , Postpartum Period/psychology , Pregnancy Complications/psychology , Pregnancy, High-Risk/psychology , Pregnant Women/psychology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/physiopathology , Adolescent , Adult , Depression, Postpartum/etiology , Fear , Female , Humans , Israel , Life Change Events , Longitudinal Studies , Obstetric Labor Complications/etiology , Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital , Postpartum Period/physiology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/etiology , Pregnancy, High-Risk/physiology , Psychometrics , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/complications , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine serum and follicular fluid C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for IVF-embryo transfer cycle, and their possible correlation to COH variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 16 consecutive patients undergoing our routine IVF long GnRH agonist protocol. Blood was drawn three times during the COH cycle: (i) the day on which adequate suppression was obtained (Day-S); (ii) the day of, or prior to HCG administration (Day-HCG); and (iii) the day of (and before) oocyte pick-up (Day-OPU). Levels of sex steroids and serum and follicular fluid CRP were compared among the three time points. Serum and follicular fluid CRP were measured with a commercial immunoturbidimetric assay. RESULTS: Serum levels of CRP were significantly higher on Day-OPU and Day-HCG than on Day-S, and significantly higher on Day-OPU than on Day-HCG. No difference was observed between follicular and serum CRP levels on Day-OPU. No significant correlations were found between serum and follicular fluid CRP, or between serum CRP-to-BMI ratio and serum sex steroid levels or IVF treatment variables. CONCLUSIONS: The significant increase in serum CRP levels during COH, especially after HCG administration, suggests that COH potentiates a state of systemic inflammation.
