Cortisol Levels In Women Research Articles

Predictable correlation between ACTH and Cortisol in Women with Aborted Pregnancies and its Association with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection

Background: Abortion is a spontaneous termination of pregnancy with various causes, including infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV). Cytomegalovirus is a common viral infection that can affect various organs and systems in the body. Aim of study: This research aims to investigate the concertation level of Cortisol and ACTH hormones that may play a role in crucial processes during pregnancy. Materials and methods: This study conducted at Maternity and Children's Hospital in Hilla from November 2023 to March 2024 focused on 250 women who had undergone abortions. Participants were divided into two groups: 200 women with abortions (Positive Group) and 50 healthy married women (Control Group). Results: we found 60 Cytomegalovirus were positively obtained from women with abortion, The serological diagnosis for CMV-positive samples found that 6 samples were seropositive to CMV IgM, 14 samples were seropositive for both IgM & IgG, and 40 (samples were seropositive for CMV IgG only. The study investigated the concertation hormone levels of Cortisol and ACTH in women who had experienced abortions with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection compared to a Control group of healthy married women. The results showed that the patient group had significantly lower cortisol levels, at a mean value of 42.1158. On the other hand,(ACTH) of (78.1468).conclusion: High levels are present in the blood of women with CMV. There is a decreased level of Cortisol in women miscarriage with CMV infection which is statically significant.

230. Cortisol and ACTH Response to Dex/CRH Testing and 24-Hour Urine Free Cortisol Levels in Women With and Those Without Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

230. Cortisol and ACTH Response to Dex/CRH Testing and 24-Hour Urine Free Cortisol Levels in Women With and Those Without Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Occupational exposure to pesticides deregulates systemic cortisol levels in women with breast cancer and correlates with poor prognosis features.

Pesticides have been pointed out as hormone disruptors and may significantly affect the prognosis of hormone-dependent diseases such as breast cancer (BC). Here, we investigated the impact of occupational pesticide exposure on systemic cortisol levels in female rural workers diagnosed with BC. Occupational exposure was assessed by interviews with a standardized questionnaire. Plasma samples (112 from pesticide-exposed women and 77 from unexposed women) were collected in the afternoon, outside the physiological cortisol peak, and analyzed by a chemiluminescent paramagnetic immunoassay for the quantitative determination of cortisol levels in serum and plasma. The results from both groups were categorized according to patients' clinicopathological and exposure data. BC pesticide-exposed women presented higher levels of cortisol than the unexposed. Higher cortisol levels were also detected in the exposed group with more aggressive disease (triple-negative BC), with tumors over 2 cm, with lymph node metastases, and with high risk of disease recurrence and death. These findings demonstrated that there is an association between pesticide exposure and BC that affected cortisol levels and correlated to poor disease prognosis.

Eating After Acute Psychosocial Stress in Healthy Men and Women: Sex Differences and Endocrine Mechanisms.

Overweight and obesity have become a major health burden with a higher prevalence of obesity in women than in men. Mental stress has been discussed to play a role in this context. We investigated endocrine mechanisms underlying eating after acute psychosocial stress and potential sex differences therein. A total of 32 male and 31 female healthy participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test before they tasted ice cream in a bogus taste test 15 minutes after stress. We repeatedly assessed the stress hormone cortisol and the satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) in saliva as well as perceived hunger before and up to 1 hour after stress. Lower immediate total cortisol stress reactivity predicted higher hunger (Ps ≤ .004), but was not associated with food intake (Ps ≥ .90) or total CCK release (Ps ≥ .84). As compared to men, women ate less after stress (Ps < .001) and had consistently lower levels of hunger (Ps ≤ .024) and cortisol (Ps ≤ .008) as well as a lower immediate total cortisol stress reactivity (Ps = .002). Further, they differed in the kinetics of CCK over the total experimental procedure (Ps ≤ .011), in immediate reaction to stress (Ps ≤ .038), and after eating (Ps ≤ .072), with women's CCK levels continuously decreasing while men's CCK levels were reactive. We found evidence for lower immediate total cortisol stress reactivity relating to higher perceived hunger, with lower cortisol levels in women. Unlike in men, CCK levels in women were not reactive to acute stress and eating and decreased continuously. Our results may suggest a higher risk for stress-induced eating in women.

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in depression and serum cortisol levels in women with breast cancer and depressed women

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in depression and serum cortisol levels in women with breast cancer and depressed women

Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on Plasma Cortisol Level in Women with Abdominal Obesity

Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on Plasma Cortisol Level in Women with Abdominal Obesity

Hair cortisol levels in women with medically unexplained symptoms

Stress has been demonstrated to be involved in the development of medically unexplained symptoms. A key underlying mechanism could be lower levels of cortisol, which can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue or pain. However, the literature is highly equivocal, which may be due to methodological limitations inherent in short-term cortisol assessment. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate, for the first time, whether individuals with different forms of medically unexplained symptoms show altered hair cortisol concentrations, a long-term marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal functioning. Two groups of women with medically unexplained symptoms were recruited. The first had a functional somatic syndrome, characterised by specific medically unexplained symptoms (i.e., chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or irritable bowel syndrome, n = 33). The second had somatic symptom disorder, characterised by excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviours devoted to various medically unexplained symptoms (n = 23). These groups were contrasted with healthy controls (n = 30), and women with depression (n = 27). Cortisol representing the previous three months was extracted from hair. Chronic stress and childhood trauma were assessed (retrospectively). Women with somatic symptom disorder had lower hair cortisol than healthy controls and women with functional somatic syndromes. No differences in hair cortisol were found between healthy controls, functional somatic syndromes, and depression. Neither childhood trauma nor chronic stress was correlated with hair cortisol. Provided that our findings are replicated, they may suggest that hypocortisolism is found in a specific subgroup of individuals with medically unexplained symptoms, and potentially in those characterised by excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviours about symptoms.

Measures of anxiety, depression and stress in the antenatal and perinatal period following a stillbirth or neonatal death: a multicentre cohort study

BackgroundThe grief associated with the death of a baby is enduring, however most women embark on another pregnancy, many in less than a year following their loss. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are reported to be increased in pregnancies after perinatal death, although effect on maternal stress is less clear. Variation between individual studies may result from differences in gestation at sampling, the questionnaire used and the type of antecedent perinatal death. We aimed to describe quantitative measures of anxiety, depression, stress and quality of life at different timepoints in pregnancies after perinatal death and in the early postnatal period.MethodsWomen recruited from three sites in the North-West of England. Women were asked to participate if a previous pregnancy had ended in a perinatal death. Participants completed validated measures of psychological state (Cambridge Worry Score, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item score) and health status (EQ-5D-5L™ and EQ5D-Visual Analogue Scale) at three time points, approximately 15 weeks’ and 32 weeks’ gestation and 6 weeks postnatally. A sample of hair was taken at approximately 36 weeks’ gestation for measurement of hair cortisol in a subgroup of women. The hair sample was divided into samples from each trimester and cortisol measured by ELISA.ResultsIn total 112 women participated in the study. Measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms decreased from the highest levels at 15 weeks’ gestation to 6-weeks postnatal (for example mean GAD-7: 15 weeks 8.2 ± 5.5, 6 weeks postnatal 4.4 ± 5.0, p<0.001). Hair cortisol levels fell in a similar profile to anxiety and depression symptoms (p<0.05). In contrast, the median EQ-5D index, measuring health status was 0.768 at 15 weeks’ gestation (Interquartile range (IQR) 0.684-0.879), 0.696 at 32 weeks’ (IQR 0.637-0.768) and 0.89 (0.760-1.00) at 6 weeks postnatal. There was a negative relationship between EPDS and perceived health status.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated heightened anxiety and depressive symptoms and elevated cortisol levels in women in pregnancies after a stillbirth or neonatal death which decrease as pregnancy progresses. Further studies are needed to determine optimal care for women to address these negative psychological consequences.

Concentrations of Salivary Cortisol in Victims of Intimate Partner Violence According to the CIRCORT Database.

This work analyzes the different levels of salivary cortisol in women from the southwest of Spain that were victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) with respect to a control group, assessing for the first time the different concentrations obtained in relation to a worldwide reference standard provided by the CIRCORT meta-global cortisol database. The clinical sample (N = 24) and the control group (N = 25) had an average of 39.12 years (SD = 12.31) and 39.52 years (SD = 11.74), respectively. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) was determined by defining the area under the curve (AUCi). There were no differences between the CAR data of the two populations F (1, 141) = 1.690, p = 0.196, but there was a highly significant difference in the three sampling days, where the clinical sample exceeded the cortisol levels of the CIRCORT database in the evening as compared to the control group (p = 0.004, p = 0.001 and p = 0.000). Salivary cortisol concentration samples taken in the evening were significantly higher than those standardized in the CIRCORT database, from the women victims of IPV as compared to the control group, showing its usefulness as an effective supportive tool for problems such as those triggered by IPV.

Psychobiological Mechanisms in Somatic Symptom Disorder and Depressive Disorders: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Approach.

Persistent somatic symptoms cause strong impairment in persons with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and depressive disorders (DDs). Specific negative psychological factors (NPFs), such as catastrophizing, negative affectivity, and behavioral avoidance, are assumed to contribute to this impairment and may maintain symptoms via dysregulations of biological stress systems. We examined the associations between NPF and somatic symptoms in the daily life of women with SSD or DD and investigated the mediating role of psychobiological stress responses. Twenty-nine women with SSD and 29 women with DD participated in an ecological momentary assessment study. For 14 days, intensity of and impairment by somatic symptoms, NPF, and stress-related biological measures (cortisol, alpha-amylase) were assessed five times per day using an electronic device and saliva samples. Multilevel models were conducted. The greater the number of NPF, the higher the concurrent and time-lagged intensity of and impairment by somatic symptoms in both groups (12.0%-38.6% of variance explained; χ2(12) p < .001 for all models). NPFs were associated with higher cortisol levels in women with DD and with lower levels in women with SSD (interaction NPF by group: B = -0.04, p = .042 for concurrent; B = -0.06, p = .019 for time-lagged). In women with SSD, lower cortisol levels were associated with higher intensity at the next measurement time point (group by cortisol: B = -1.71, p = .020). No mediation effects were found. NPFs may be considered as transdiagnostic factors in the development and treatment of impairing somatic symptoms. Our findings will allow the development of new treatment strategies that use ecological momentary intervention approaches focusing on NPF.

Efficiency evaluation of the improved treatment and prevention complex in pregnant women after assisted reproductive technologies

Study objective: to determine the role and effectiveness of the proposed therapeutic and preventive complex and psychoemotional correction of hormonal disorders in the pregnancy dynamics after assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to improve the antenatal observation and prevention of obstetric and perinatal complications.Materials and methods. The study included 299 pregnant women: the main group included 249 women whose pregnancy occurred as an ART result; the control group included 50 pregnant women with spontaneous pregnancy. Therapeutic and prophylactic complex for pregnant women after ART included: micronized progesterone, magnesium oxide, folic acid, L-arginine aspartate, ω3-polyunsaturated fatty acids and long-term psychological correction on the eve of the ART program, at 8–10, 16–18 and 28–30 weeks of pregnancy. Results. There was a significant increase in the β-chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level in women of the study groups in the first trimester of pregnancy against the background of the proposed treatment. Mean β-HCG value at 7–8 weeks of gestation in the subgroup IA exceeded the subgroup IB by 37% (p &lt;0.05), in subgroup IIA it exceeded the subgroup IIB by 33% (p &lt;0.05). The mean β-hCG value in subgroups IIIA and IIIB did not have a significant difference in the dynamics of the first trimester compared with the control group and among themselves (p &gt;0.05).Mean progesterone value at 7–8 weeks of gestation in subgroup IA increased by 38% in comparison with pregnant women who received the conventional treatment complex (p &lt;0.05), in subgroup IIA it was 73% higher than in subgroup IIB (p &lt;0.05). There was no significant difference in the progesterone level in subgroups IIIA and IIIB in the dynamics of the first trimester.The average cortisol value at 23–24 weeks of pregnancy in subgroup IA decreased by 42% (p &lt;0.05), in pregnant women with endocrine infertility against the background of the proposed treatment complex it was 62% less than in subgroup IIB (p &lt;0.05). The average cortisol level in women with a male factor of infertility was 63% lower than in subgroup IIIB against the background of the proposed complex (p &lt;0.05).Conclusion. Advanced therapy with micronized progesterone in combination with magnesium saturation, L-arginine aspartate, folic acid, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as long-term psychoemotional correction is appropriate and effective compared to conventional therapy for pregnant women.

Does Hypnofertility-Based Nursing Care Affect Cortisol Levels, Fertility Preparedness, and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization? A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study used Hypnofertility-based interventions to determine whether these interventions would lead to increased fertility preparedness and pregnancy outcomes and decreased cortisol levels in women undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment. This randomized, controlled, prospective study was conducted from November 2017 through March 2019 in 61 Turkish women with unexplained infertility (intervention group: 30, control group: 31). Hypnofertility-based nursing care included affirmations, visualization, imagination, and relaxation from the first day of treatment until the day of the pregnancy test. The Fertility Preparedness Scale, a saliva sample for cortisol level, and the pregnancy test results were used for data collection. Hypnofertility-based nursing care decreased the cortisol levels of women in the intervention group compared to that in the control group (p = 0.00). Though fertility preparedness was higher in the intervention group, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.13). Although interventions relieved the women during the treatment process, there was no anticipated effect on pregnancy outcomes (p = 0.75). Hypnofertility-based nursing care significantly reduce the cortisol levels, suggesting that the intervention helped women relax.

Sitting Time Predicts Cortisol Levels In Women, Independent Of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Level

PURPOSE: Research suggests that sitting time may be an independent predictor of negative health outcomes, even after accounting for physical activity (PA) participation. There is limited investigation of the association between sitting time and mental health outcomes, and the mechanisms by which sitting time may increase the risk for mental health disorders are not completely understood. Considering that cortisol [an index of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis regulation] has been shown to be a robust predictive biomarker for depression and anxiety disorder risk, this study aimed to investigate whether sitting time was associated with salivary cortisol levels in women, and whether this relationship remained significant after controlling for indices of physical fitness. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy women [18-45y, mean age: 23.9 +/- 6.3y; mean body mass index (BMI): 23.9 +/- 4.6] who were medication-free and had regular menstrual cycles completed (1) self-report of weekly PA and weekly sitting time; (2) assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) via maximal oxygen consumption during exercise; (3) one-week recording of sleep and activity patterns by wrist actigraphy; and (4) measurement of salivary cortisol levels (collected during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle in order to control for the influence of ovarian cycle hormone fluctuations on salivary cortisol). RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that greater total sitting time/week significantly predicted higher cortisol levels in women (ß= 0.71, p< 0.001), and this relationship remained significant after controlling for age, BMI, and CRF level (ß= 0.67, p< 0.01). Additionally, greater total sitting time/week was significantly associated with lower actigraph-measured PA (activity counts/min; r = -.57 p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that, although greater total sitting time was associated with a reduced amount of daily PA, greater total sitting time may still predict higher salivary cortisol levels, independent of indices of fitness (BMI and CRF). It is possible that the stress-related mechanisms underlying the relationship between sitting time and depression and anxiety risk may be related to sitting time itself, and not a simply a product of reduced daily PA. Further investigation is needed to explore these associations.

The Effect of Whole Blood Lead (Pb-B) Levels on Changes in Peripheral Blood Morphology and Selected Biochemical Parameters, and the Severity of Depression in Peri-Menopausal Women at Risk of Metabolic Syndrome or with Metabolic Syndrome.

The aim of our study was to assess the impact of whole blood lead (Pb-B) levels on changes in peripheral blood morphology and selected biochemical parameters, and the severity of depression in peri-menopausal women at risk of metabolic syndrome (pre-MetS) or with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The study involved 233 women from the general population of the West Pomeranian Province (Poland) aged 44–65 years. The intensity of menopausal symptoms and the severity of depression was examined using the Blatt–Kupperman Index (KI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin, glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglyceride levels (TG), cortisol, morphology of blood cells and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Pb-B was measured. Women with MetS had higher levels of glucose, HbA1C, HDL, LDL, TG, cortisol, insulin and higher HOMA-IR. No significant differences in Pb-B were observed between pre-MetS and the control group, and between pre-MetS and the MetS group. A significant correlation was noticed between Pb-B vs. the percentage of monocytes in blood, and blood cortisol levels in women with MetS; Pb-B vs. lymphocyte count and HbA1C in the pre-MetS group, as well as in the BDI scores between the MetS and pre-MetS group. We cannot clearly state that exposure to Pb is an environmental factor that can be considered as a risk factor for MetS in this studied group.

Psychopathological sequelae of female genital mutilation and their neuroendocrinological associations

BackgroundAnecdotal evidence suggests the frequently traumatic nature of female genital mutilation (FGM). At present, systematic research on the psychological sequelae of this tradition has remained limited. The study provides preliminary, high-quality psychodiagnostic data on potential psychopathological consequences of FGM, with a focus on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), shutdown dissociation and other stress-related variables.MethodsWe investigated a convenience sample of N = 167 women, supported by the women’s affairs headquarters in Jijiga (capital of the Ethiopian Somali Region) and a local Ethiopian non-governmental organization. Our main outcome measures were PTSD (PSS-I) and shutdown dissociation (ShuD). We also assessed depression and anxiety (HSCL-25), major depression, substance abuse and dependence, suicidality and psychotic disorders (M.I.N.I.; sub-scales A., B., K., and L.). In addition, we collected hair samples to assess hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) as a neuroendocrinological measure.ResultsThe majority of women endured FGM (FGM I: 36%, FGM II/III: 52%) and, regardless of the level of the physical invasiveness, almost all women reported having felt intense fear and/or helplessness. FGM II/III, the more invasive form, was associated with a greater vulnerability to PTSD symptoms (p < .001) and shutdown dissociation (p < .001). Symptoms of depression (p < .05) and anxiety (p < .01) were also elevated. Random forest regression with conditional inference trees revealed evidence of an alteration of the cortisol levels in relation to the age when FGM was experienced (< 1 year) and the invasiveness of the procedure.ConclusionMore extensive forms of FGM are associated with more severe psychopathological symptoms – particularly with an increased vulnerability to PTSD. Higher hair cortisol levels in women who experienced FGM before their first year of age or had more severe forms of FGM indicate long-term neuroendocrinological consequences of FGM and trauma in general on the stress system.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism associates with affect and cortisol levels in women.

IntroductionWe tested the extent to which the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism is associated with affective state and evening cortisol levels. We limited our study to women as previous research suggests that the link between COMT genotype and psychological health is entangled by sex differences.Materials and MethodsThe participants were assessed on measures of anxiety, mood disturbance, depressive symptomatology, and perceived stress. We also evaluated participants on a quality of life measures that included two emotion domains and two physical domains (physical health and environment).ResultsWe found that under normal (nonstress) conditions, the COMT A allele (Met carriers, higher dopamine) associates with healthier affect and lower afternoon cortisol levels in women. These effects were limited to affective measures and not to physical or environmental quality of life.ConclusionsThese findings help to shed light on the complex nature of COMT and emotion, and suggest that both sex and task condition (stress vs. nonstress) should be considered when examining the relationship between COMT genotype and emotion.

Hair cortisol and the relationship with chronic pain and quality of life in endometriosis patients

Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent disease in which pelvic pain is the dominant symptom. The negative effects of endometriosis on the life of women with this disease can be a cause of stress. Stress levels can be measured in different ways, mostly reflecting acute stress responses. Hair cortisol measurements are a reflection of long-term systematic cortisol levels. In this study a first attempt is made to measure cortisol levels in hair of endometriosis patients in comparison with healthy controls. Moreover, it is explored whether chronic pain symptoms as well as different aspects of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) are associated with hair cortisol levels in women with endometriosis. Results show that the mean hair cortisol level is significantly higher in women with endometriosis compared to healthy controls (p = 0.018). There is a positive correlation between hair cortisol level and HRQoL in patients but not in controls (Rho 0.426). The level of hair cortisol does not correlate with the reported pain intensity in patients (Rho −0.082). These results are indicative of an altered HPA-axis function in endometriosis patients, possibly caused by higher chronic stress level in these patients. Moreover, a potential explanation for the positive correlation of cortisol with the HRQoL in these patients is that patients with a high HRQoL have an adequate stress response by increasing their cortisol levels as a response to physical and emotional stress induced by the endometriosis.

Child Maltreatment Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Cortisol Levels in Women: A Literature Review.

Studies of the relationship between cortisol and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have had inconsistent results. Gender, trauma type, and age at trauma exposure may explain the inconsistencies. The objective of the review was to examine cortisol levels in relation to PTSD in women with a history of child maltreatment trauma. A review of literature found 13 articles eligible for inclusion. Despite limiting focus to the relatively homogeneous population, the patterns of associations between PTSD and cortisol levels were still inconsistent. The reasons for the inconsistencies likely include highly varied methods across studies, small convenience samples, and unmeasured neuroendocrine hormones that may be stronger predictors of PTSD. The review does not point to a clear bio-behavioral target for psychiatric nursing intervention. It is important to continue to address the developmental and clinical stress response aspects of child maltreatment trauma-related PTSD without assuming that these stress responses are hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis driven.

Determination of plasma cortisol levels in women with dysthyroidism

Determination of plasma cortisol levels in women with dysthyroidism

Higher Cortisol Level Would Increase the Risk of Spontaneous Abortion

Objective: To understand the correlation between cortisol level and spontaneous abortion in normal pregnancy with gestational age less than 20 weeks.&#x0D; &#x0D; Method: The study design was a correlative analytic prospective study with cross sectional observational approach. This study started from June 2012 until the number of participant sufficiently from Prof. Dr. R.D. Kandou General Hospital. The data then processed SPSS version 2.0, ROC and logistic regression equation model (chance model).&#x0D; &#x0D; Result: The study included 50 cases consisted of 25 spontaneous abortion cases and 25 normal pregnancies with gestational age less than 20 weeks, and got result if cortisol level for 18.52 μg/dl so spontaneously abortion chance for 35.7% and if cortisol level for 24.0 μg/dl would chance for spontaneous abortion for 99.3%.&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion: In this study, there was a significant difference in cortisol level in women with spontaneous abortion and &lt; 20 weeks normal pregnancy. Higher cortisol level would increase spontaneous abortion risk. The mean cortisol level in spontaneous abortion was&#x0D; 27.28892 μg/dl. While the mean cortisol level in women with normal pregnancy was 11.7660 μg/dl. Analysis of the correlation between cortisol level and spontaneous abortion gave a cut off point for cortisol level of 19.1 μg/dl with sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 92%.&#x0D; &#x0D; [Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2013; 37-1: 17-20]&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: cortisol level, normal pregnancy, spontaneous abortion