Postpartum blues: relationship between not-protein bound steroid hormones in plasma and postpartum mood changes.
The relationship between non-bound steroid hormone levels in plasma and the occurrence of postpartum mood changes was investigated in 26 newly delivered mothers throughout the first 5 days postpartum. Studies with saliva samples had reported higher concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone on the days of symptoms in women experiencing postpartum blues. As there had been a controversy as to how far saliva concentrations reflect free hormone levels in plasma, free hormone levels of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone were determined in plasma using ultrafiltration. No significant difference concerning free hormone levels could be found between women with and without postpartum blues.
Heidrich
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, Wuerzburg University, Germany.
Schleyer
M
M
Spingler
H
H
Albert
P
P
Knoche
M
M
Fritze
J
J
Lanczik
M
M
D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin