New Delhi :
A new study suggests women suffering from depression may have a lower chance of becoming pregnant. A 38 per cent decrease in the average probability of conception in a given menstrual cycle among women who reported severe depressive symptoms, compared to those with no or low symptoms, research reveals.
The findings show that moderate to severe depressive symptoms, regardless of current psychotropic medication treatment, may delay conception. The study was conducted at Boston University in US.
According to researchers, depression has been associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which if influences the menstrual cycle may affect ability to conceive. The findings were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
More than 2,100 female pregnancy planners were studied. Overall, 22 per cent reported a clinical diagnosis of depression in their medical histories. Another thing that was found, sedatives used to treat anxiety and other disorders - was associated with a decrease in pregnancy.
