The effect of stress on the female reproductive system: pathophysiology and neuroendocrine interactions

Biryukova D.A., Amyan T.S., Gavisova A.A., Durinyan E.R., Gardanova Zh.R., Nikolaeva M.A., Krasnova N.A.

1) Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia; 2) Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia

Stress is an important factor that influences the work of many systems, and it can cause an imbalance in the human body. The issue of stress and its consequences is extremely important, since there is a rapid increase in behavior disorders caused by stress and stress-associated diseases all over the world (various forms of neuroses and depressions) which affect from 25 to 35% of the population. The impact of stress on the female reproductive system is of particular interest. Stress can be considered to be one of the most common and underestimated factors which contribute to the female infertility. The main aspect of scientific research is the study of the work and interaction of the nervous, immune and endocrine systems under the influence of external stimuli, namely stress factors. The analysis of the literature data indicates the adverse impact of stress factors on the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology programs, the processes of oogenesis and embryogenesis. Our literature review systematizes the data on the close relationship between the central nervous system, immune and endocrine systems; each of these systems contributes to the female reproductive health at various levels.
Conclusion: The optimal functioning of the female reproductive system under stress directly depends on the function of the central nervous system, endocrine and immune systems, as well as their direct interaction. It is necessary to search and develop new personalized approaches to the prevention and treatment of stress-related conditions. Further studies devoted to this problem can be beneficial not only for scientific researchers, but they can also have a high practical significance for clinicians.

Authors’ contributions: Biryukova D.A., Amyan T.S., Gavisova A.A., Durinyan E.R., Gardanova Zh.R., Nikolaeva M.A., Krasnova N.A. – review on the topic of publication, writing the article, final approval of the publication version.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Funding: The study was conducted without sponsorship.
For citation: Biryukova D.A., Amyan T.S., Gavisova A.A., Durinyan E.R., Gardanova Zh.R., Nikolaeva M.A., Krasnova N.A. The effect of stress on the female reproductive system: pathophysiology and neuroendocrine interactions. Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023; (11): 36-42 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.175

Keywords

stress
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis
autonomic nervous system
immune system
endocrine system
reproductive function
infertility
assisted reproductive technologies

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Received 20.07.2023

Accepted 17.10.2023

About the Authors

Daria A. Biryukova, medical resident, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of
the Russian Federation, +7(968) 511-20-02, dasha4465@yandex.ru, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4.
Tatiana S. Amyan, Ph.D., Researcher at the 1st Gynecology Department, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and
Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, +7(926)163-28-33, t_amyan@oparina4.ru, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4.
Alla A. Gavisova, Ph.D., Leading Researcher at the 1st Gynecology Department, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, +7(916)829-05-90, gavialla@yandex.ru, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4.
Evelina R. Durinyan, Ph.D., Senior Researcher at the 1st Gynecology Department, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, +7(916)612-99-30, evelina_durinyan@mail.ru, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4.
Zhanna R. Gardanova, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Psychiatric Department ICPSW, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of
the Russian Federation, +7(965)277-35-09, zanna7777@inbox.ru, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1.
Marina A. Nikolayeva, Ph.D., Leading Researcher at the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, +7(495)438-11-83, MNikolaeva@oparina4.ru, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4.
Natalya A. Krasnova, Ph.D., employee of the 1st Gynecology Department, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, +7(915)355-42-03, n_krasnova@oparina4.ru, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4.

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