Mood disorders and fertility in women: a critical review of the literature and implications for future research
Abstract
A medline literature review of fertility and mood disorder articles published since 1980 was performed in order to critically review the literature regarding a relationship between mood disorders, fertility and infertility treatment. Previous studies suggests that mood disorders, both in the bipolar and unipolar spectrum, may be associated with decreased fertility rates. Most studies report that women seeking treatment for infertility have an increased rate of depressive symptoms and possibly major depression (none showed evaluated mood elevations). Many, but not all, studies found that depressive symptoms may decrease the success rate of fertility treatment. Treatments for infertility may independently influence mood through their effects on estrogen and progesterone, which have been shown to influence mood through their actions on serotonin. Studies are limited in scope and confounding variables are many, limiting the strength of the results. In conclusion, a range of existing studies suggests that fertility and mood disorders are related in a complex way. Future studies should use clinical interviews and standardized and validated measures to confirm the diagnosis of mood disorders and control for the variables of medication treatment, desire for children, frequency of sexual intercourse, age, FSH levels, menstrual cycle regularity in assessing an interrelationship between mood disorders and fertility.
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People with infertility who are undergoing treatment show a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to control groups.
“people with infertility who are undergoing treatment show a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to control groups (Chen, Chang, Tsai, & Juang, 2004; Volgsten, Skoog, Ekselius, Lundkvist, & Sundstrom, 2008; Williams, Marsh, & Rasgon, 2007).”
From Infertility-related stress and depressive symptoms – the role of experiential avoidance: a cross-sectional study. (2020) · cites this paper as Williams, Marsh, & Rasgon, 2007
The review’s section on rates of mood disorders in female patients with infertility (p. 5) reports a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than in control groups in most, but not all, studies. The claim omits that qualification and extends a review focused on women to people with infertility generally. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDepression may contribute to a decreased likelihood of having children.
“Depression may also contribute to a decreased likelihood of having children.6,7”
From Association between depression and the likelihood of having children: a nationwide register study in Finland (2023) · cites this paper as [6]
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References 92 · Cited by 188
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Abma JC, Chandra A, Mosher WD, Peterson LS, Piccinino LJ. Fertility, family planning and women's health: estimates from the National Survey of family growth. Vital Health Stat 1997; 23 :1-14.
- Blenner JL. Clomiphene-induced mood swings. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 1991; 20 :321-327.
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- Authors
- Williams, K. E., Marsh, W. K., & Rasgon, N. L.
- Affiliations
- Stanford Health Care (US)
- Venue
- Human Reproduction Update
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2007-09-25
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 607-616
- ISSN
- 1355-4786 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2369
- OpenAlex
- W2129603642
- Cited by
- 188
- References
- 92
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 1.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Human Reproduction Update (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network (American Medical Association) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Keywords
- mood disorders, female fertility, infertility, depression, bipolar disorder, depressive symptoms, infertility treatment outcomes, estrogen, progesterone, serotonin
- MeSH terms
- Female, Fertility, Fertilization in Vitro, Humans, Infertility, Female, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Rate, Mood Disorders, Biomedical Research
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