Does the Mode of Conception Influence Early Postpartum Depression? A Prospective Comparative Study from South India

The association between pregnancy intention, fertility treatment use, and postpartum depression

RATIONALE

Understanding whether postpartum depressive (PPD) symptoms vary by pregnancy intention and use of fertility treatments has implications for reproductive health policies and practices.

OBJECTIVE

The first aim of this study was to determine whether PPD symptoms differ between women who had unintended pregnancies, women who conceived spontaneously and were unsure about their pregnancy intention, women who used fertility treatments to conceive, and women who conceived spontaneously and intentionally. The second aim was to determine whether PPD symptoms differed based on the fertility treatment used to conceive (fertility drugs only, medicated insemination, or assisted reproductive technology [ART]).

METHODS

Data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (2012-2019), a cross-sectional survey administered to women throughout the U.S. who have recently given birth, was used to carry out our aims.

RESULTS

For the first aim (unweighted N = 243,677), compared to women who had spontaneous, intended pregnancies, women who had unintended pregnancies (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.26-1.39, p < 0.01) and those with spontaneous pregnancies who were unsure about their intention (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.23-1.38, p < 0.01) had higher odds of elevated PPD symptoms, adjusting for a range of covariates. Women who conceived with fertility treatments did not have higher odds of elevated PPD symptoms (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.84-1.10, p = 0.61). For the second aim (unweighted N = 2,210), compared to those in the ART group, those who conceived using only fertility enhancing drugs had greater odds of developing elevated PPD symptoms (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.24-3.24, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that giving birth to an unintended pregnancy in the U.S. increases risk of elevated PPD symptoms. While overall women who conceive with the use of fertility treatments are not at increased risk of experiencing elevated PPD symptoms, there may be variability in risk based on the specific fertility treatments used.

Progression of depression and anxiety symptoms in pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology in the United States

PURPOSE

Women who utilize assisted-reproductive technology (ART) to achieve pregnancy experience unique circumstances before and during their pregnancy. This study aims to examine the progression of mental health in pregnant women who conceived via various methods of ART to understand gestational time periods of emotional stability or risk specific to these populations.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of the Yale Pink and Blue Study - a prospective cohort involving women from 137 obstetrical practices in the northeastern United States between 2005-2009. Depressive and anxiety symptoms among spontaneous, planned pregnancies were compared to ART pregnancies using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and its anxiety subscale (EPDS-3A), respectively. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to compare group changes (EPDS and EPDS-3A score threshold ≥10) at timepoints of <17 weeks (T1), 28(±2) weeks (T2), and 8(±4) weeks postpartum (T3).

RESULTS

1,466 spontaneous, planned pregnancies were compared to 191 pregnancies conceived via ART. Prevalence of depressive symptoms were similar between conception groups. Change in prevalence over time differed significantly between those groups (from T1 to T3 (β 0.59), as well as between spontaneous pregnancies compared to autologous gamete ART pregnancies (from T1 to T2 (β 0.48) and T1 to T3 (β 0.65). Course of anxiety did not differ between conception groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Women who conceive via ART have different rates of change in depressive symptoms throughout gestation compared to women with spontaneous pregnancies.