Study warns depression lowers women’s chances of pregnancy

Findings suggest that moderate to severe depressive symptoms, regardless of current psychotropic medication treatment, may delay conception. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • The study found 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.
  • Use of psychotropic medication, which change brain function and cause alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness, does not appear to harm fertility.

WOMEN WITH SEVERE depressive symptoms have a decreased chance of becoming pregnant, while the use of psychotropic medication, which change brain function and cause alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness, does not appear to harm fertility, Boston University (BU) in the US said in a press release on Tuesday, citing a study by researchers from its schools of public health and medicine.

Data for the research came from more than 2,100 female pregnancy planners, aged 21-45. The participants were asked to report, among other information, their current depressive symptoms and psychotropic medication use.

Overall, 22 per cent reported a clinical diagnosis of depression in their medical histories, while 17.2 per cent were former users of psychotropic medication, and 10.3 per cent were current users of psychotropic drugs.

The study found 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.

The results were similar, regardless of whether the women were on psychotropic medications or not.

Despite associations in prior studies between infertility and the use of antidepressants, antipsychotics or mood stabilisers among already infertile women, “current use of psychotropic medications did not appear to harm the probability of conception,” said lead author Yael Nillni. “Our findings suggest that moderate to severe depressive symptoms, regardless of current psychotropic medication treatment, may delay conception.”

Although the research does not answer why women with more depressive symptoms may take longer to become pregnant, the authors noted several potential mechanisms for future study. Depression has been associated with influencing the menstrual cycle and affecting the ability to conceive, for example.

The paper, “Depression, anxiety, and psychotropic medication use and fecundability”, is in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.