1. Psychosocial stress and ovarian function in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
- Author
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Kim, Jayeon, Kim, Jayeon, Whitcomb, Brian W, Kwan, Brian, Zava, David, Sluss, Patrick M, Dietz, Andrew, Shliakhtsitsava, Ksenya, Romero, Sally AD, Natarajan, Loki, Su, H Irene, Kim, Jayeon, Kim, Jayeon, Whitcomb, Brian W, Kwan, Brian, Zava, David, Sluss, Patrick M, Dietz, Andrew, Shliakhtsitsava, Ksenya, Romero, Sally AD, Natarajan, Loki, and Su, H Irene
- Abstract
Study questionIs psychosocial stress associated with ovarian function in reproductive-aged survivors of cancer diagnosed as adolescents and young adults (AYA survivors)?Summary answerWe observed no association between self-reported and biomarkers of psychosocial stress and ovarian function in AYA survivors.What is known alreadyPsychosocial stress suppresses hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, resulting in ovulatory dysfunction, decreased sex steroidogenesis and lower fertility in reproductive-aged women. Many cancer survivors experience high psychosocial stress and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation. The menstrual pattern disturbances and infertility they experience have been attributed to ovarian follicle destruction, but the contribution of psychosocial stress to these phenotypes is unknown.Study design, size, durationA cross-sectional study was conducted estimating the association between perceived stress, measured by self-report and saliva cortisol, and ovarian function, measured by bleeding pattern, dried blood spot (DBS) FSH and LH, and saliva estradiol. We included 377 AYA survivor participants.Participants/materials, setting, methodsAYA survivor participants were ages 15-35 at cancer diagnosis and ages 18-40 at study enrollment, had completed primary cancer treatment, had a uterus and at least one ovary, did not have uncontrolled endocrinopathy and were not on hormone therapy. Recruited from cancer registries, physician referrals and cancer advocacy groups, participants provided self-reported information on psychosocial stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)) and on cancer and reproductive (fertility, contraception, menstrual pattern) characteristics. DBS samples were collected timed to the early follicular phase (cycle Days 3-7) for menstruating individuals and on a random day for amenorrheic individuals; saliva samples were collected three time points within 1 day. FSH and LH were measured by DBS ELISAs, cortisol was measured by ELISA a
- Published
- 2021