Preconception menstrual cycle disorder and antenatal depression: a cross-sectional study with prerecorded information

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the association between pre-pregnancy menstrual cycle characteristics (i.e. cycle-length variability and cycle length) and antenatal depression.

Methods

This study retrieved the data from the baseline survey of the randomized controlled trial with pregnant women at 16–20 weeks gestation who used a pregnancy tracking app. The antenatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 16–20 weeks gestation, and the cutoff point of 10/11 was adopted. Pre-conceptional menstrual cycle information was obtained via a prerecorded period tracking app. Cycle-length variability was defined as the average difference in the lengths between cycles, dichotomized into regular (≤6 days) and irregular (>6 days). Cycle length was coded as a categorical variable: <25 days, 25–26 days, 27–29 days (regular), 30–31 days, 32–33 days, and 34+ days. The associations of cycle disorders with EPDS scores were examined using regression analysis and a multiple logistic regression model adjusted for covariates.

Results

The total of 3473 participants were analyzed in this study. Irregular cycle variability (>6 days) was significantly associated with high EPDS scores (adjusted: standardized beta = 0.049, p = 0.003) and with high cutoff EPDS scores (over 11) (adjusted OR = 1.40 [1.02–1.94], p = 0.038) but not with cycle length.

Conclusion

Irregular menstrual cycle before pregnancy was associated with depression during pregnancy. The health of the menstrual cycle during preconception needs to be further explored to promote healthy maternal mental health.

Keywords:

• Childbirth
• maternal health
• mental health
• perinatal health
• prenatal depression

Author contributions

DN was in charge of this study, supervising the process and providing his expert opinion. NS and DN designed the study and analyzed the data. Collaborators HA and NK ensured that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work were appropriately investigated and resolved. NS wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and all other authors revised it critically. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

Daisuke Nishi received personal fees from Startia, Inc., en-power, Inc., MD.net, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe Shipyard outside the submitted work. Norito Kawakami is currently receiving grants from Fujitsu LTD., Fujitsu Software Technologies LTD, SB At Work Corp., personal fees from Occupational Health Foundation, Japan Dental Association, Sekisui Chemicals, Junpukai Health Care Center, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and non-financial support from Japan Productivity Center as relevant financial activities outside the submitted work. Additionally, MTI LTd. has been involved in this study, as mentioned in the manuscript.

Data availability statement

This data is not openly available.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) [19H01073 to DN] funded this work. The study's sponsor had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or report writing. The authors had access to the data in the study and the final responsibility for submitting the paper.