Associations of psychological status in the early postpartum period with resumption of menstruation and degree of menstruation-related symptoms

• Published in: Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Vol. 42; no. 7; p. 2954
• Main Authors: Ishihara, Rumi, Nagamine, Keiko, Nishikawa, Yoshie, Haku, Mari, Uemura, Hirokazu, Matsuura, Yukie, Yasui, Toshiyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 03.10.2022
• Subjects: Depression, Postpartum - epidemiology; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Humans; Menstruation; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Women's Health; menstrual symptoms; depression; resuming menstruation; Postpartum
• ISSN: 1364-6893
• DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2022.2114334

The aim of this prospective study was to clarify the associations of psychological status in the early postpartum period with resumption of menstruation and degree of menstruation-related symptoms. This study was conducted from February in 2017 to July in 2018 in Japan. We conducted self-administered questionnaire surveys for 229 postpartum women at 3 days postpartum, 2 weeks postpartum, one month postpartum, 3 months postpartum and 6 months postpartum. The proportion of women who resumed menstruation in the period up to 6 months postpartum was 38.8%. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score at 6 months postpartum in women who resumed menstruation in the period up to 6 months postpartum was significantly higher than that in women who did not resume menstruation. EPDS scores during the postpartum period in women in whom menstruation-related symptoms became worse than those before pregnancy were significantly higher than those in women in whom menstruation-related symptoms did not change compared to those before pregnancy. In multiple regression analysis, there was no significant difference between EPDS score at 6 months postpartum and degree of menstruation-related symptoms. Additional research is needed to clarify the association of psychological condition during the postpartum period with resumption of menstruation. Impact Statement Postpartum psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety during the postpartum period may affect degrees of menstruation-related symptoms after resumption of menstruation, and there also may be a bidirectional relationship between psychological symptoms and menstrual pain. Resumption of menstruation occurred in 38.8% of 121 women within 6 months postpartum, and poor psychological condition during the postpartum period was associated with early resumption of menstruation. The psychological condition in women with earlier resumption of menstruation might affect menstruation-related symptoms. Management of a stable psychological status during the early postpartum period should be implemented for women's health care in the future.