Medical Factors
Publications under ‘Medical Factors’ examine the association of mental and physical medical conditions as well as medication use with fertility and reproductive outcomes.
Women who used naproxen and opioids in the past month had slightly lower fecundability than women who did not use any pain medications. Other pain-relieving medications (acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen) were not associated with fecundability.
Women with severe symptoms of depression had lower fecundability than women with no or low symptoms of depression. Current or past use of medications for mental health conditions was not associated with reduced fecundability.
Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) was not associated with fecundability among men or women overall. However, among women with a history of sexually transmitted infections or pelvic inflammatory disease, HPV vaccination was associated with higher fecundability.
Women with severe symptoms of depression and higher perceived stress were more likely to have irregular menstrual cycles. Use of medications for mental health conditions was not related to menstrual cycle regularity or length, after accounting for history of anxiety or depression diagnoses.
Among women, higher perceived stress was associated with slightly lower fecundability. Among men, perceived stress was not associated with fecundability.
Among women, history of diagnosed asthma and asthma medication use were not associated with fecundability.
Women who used psychotropic medications (such as anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications) during pregnancy had an average gestation 1 week shorter than women who never used psychotropic medications.
Preconception influenza vaccination (“flu shot”) in either the male or female partner was not associated with reduced fecundability.
A history of treatments for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or abnormal Paps was not associated with fecundability.