Job strain and time to pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The association between fertility and job strain defined as high job demands and low job control has not previously been studied. A follow-up study was conducted with prospective collection of information on job strain among women, achievement of pregnancy, and potential confounding variables.


METHODS
A total of 297 Danish couples without previous reproductive experience was followed for a maximum of 6 menstrual cycles from termination of birth control until pregnancy. Job demand and job control were measured by a questionnaire developed by Karasek and his co-workers.


RESULTS
The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for conception per menstrual cycle for women with high job strain was 0.9 (95% CI 0.5-1.5) when compared with that of women in low-strain jobs. Only in secondary analyses restricted to couples with no suspected competitive causes of reduced fertility was a statistically significant reduced odds found for women with high-strain jobs compared with all other jobs.


CONCLUSIONS
The main finding of this study did not corroborate a hypothesis of a substantial detrimental effect of job strain on fecundability.
Hjollund
N H
NH
Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. akh.gp22s.akamkhh1@aaa.dk
Kold Jensen
T
T
Bonde
J P
JP
Henriksen
T B
TB
Kolstad
H A
HA
Andersson
A M
AM
Ernst
E
E
Giwercman
A
A
Skakkebaek
N E
NE
Olsen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003718:Denmark; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013997:Time Factors; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*