Anna ziomkiewicz polish academy of sciences institute of anthropology Szymon wichary

1. Stress and reproduction. Effectof individual variation in stress responsiveness on the level of estradiol and progesterone during the menstrual cycle Anna ziomkiewicz polishacademy of sciencesinstitute of anthropology Szymon wichary Warsaw University of Social Sciences and Humanities Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Cognitive Studies

2. Introduction • Adaptive models of the influence of the psychosocial stress predict supression of the reproductive function in response to the environemental cues indicating lowering of the social status (Flinn et al., 2011; Wasser and Place 2001) • Psychosocial stress is associated with fertility (studies on the psychosocial stress related to infertility - Domar et al., 2000; Hjollund et al., 1999; studies on cycle dysregulation and psychosocial stress – Yao et al., 2009; studies on spontanic abortion and psychosocial stress – Nepomnaschy et al., 2006) • Few studies demonstrated the association between psychosocial stress and ovarian hormone levels during the menstrual cycle (Berga et al., 2003; Nepomnaschy et al., 2004; Yao et al., 2009)

3. Consequences of stressdepend on individualstressresponsiveness Temperament Copingstrategies

4. STAR Study design

5. Studysample • 113 women 25-35 years living in Wroclaw, South-western Poland, • recruited by advertisement from general population; • Inclusion criteria • regular menstrual cycle, not pregnant and not lactating ≥ 3months • prior to the study, good health, e.g. no diagnosed fertility problems • or metabolic conditions, not taking hormonal contraceptives • Demography and anthropometrics • 80% with university education, 60% in the stable relationship with • a partner; mean height – 164.6 cm (6.41), mean weight – 61.5 kg • (10.74), mean body fat – 26.2 % (7.23)

6. Hormonalmeasures • Levels of E1G and PdG analysed in first morning urine samples • from the entire menstrual cycles • Laboratory analysis: • E1G and PdG measured by EIA, data corrected for urin • concentration and aligned acording to the ovulation day • Hormonal indices: • Estradiol - E1G cycle, E1G folicular, E1G luteal, E1G midcycle • Progesterone - PdG cycle, PdG luteal, PdG midluteal

7. Temperament • Temperamentaltraitsmeasured with the FormalCharacteristic of Behavior – • Temperamental Inventory (Zawadzki and Strelau, 1997): Briskness(BR), • Perseverance(PE), SenosorySensitivity (SS), EmotionalReactivity (ER), • Endurance(EN), Activity (AC) High Activity High Endurance Low Emotional Reactivity High AC High EN Low ER Low Activity Low Endurance High Emotional Reactivity Low AC Low EN High ER

8. Copingstrategies • Coping styles measured with COPE Inventory (Carver et al., 1989; polish version Piatek&Wrzesniewski, 1996): Concentration on the problem, Denial, Concentration on emotions, Social suport, Acceptance, Religion, Sense of Humor,Substances Usage Denial Substances Usage

9. STAR Studyresults

10. Correlations– temperamentaltraits marked correlations significant at p<0.05

11. Differences in E1G and PdGprofilesbetween temperamental groups all differences significant at p<0.05, model adjusted for body fat Ziomkiewicz et al., 2012

12. Correlation – copingstrategies

13. Differences in PdGindices and profilesbetween coping stylegroups alldifferencessignificant at p<0.05, model adjusted for physicalactivity

14. Conclusions • Temperamental traits are associated with the estradiol level and pattern of progesterone surge during the menstrual cycle. Coping strategies are related only to the progesterone level. • Future studies of the association between psychosocial stress and reproductive function should take into consideration individual differences in stress responsiveness. • Important message for fertility practitioners. Stress associated psychological factors may directly influence reproductive hormone levels. • Examining stress reactivity in women may explain some of their fertility problems

15. Acknowledgments STAR STUDY was supported with the grant from Polish Ministery of Sciences and Higher Education (No N N303 2403 33). I would like to thank research assistants: Aleksandra Gomula from the Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Anthropology and Dorota Bochenek for their envaluable help in the study conducting.