Abstract
The human body has the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and mobilizes various
biological systems in order to do so. When exposed to stressful conditions, the endocrine,
nervous, and immune systems come together to aid in maintaining homeostasis; however,
during periods of chronic stress, these systems can become maladaptive and lead to
long-term detrimental health outcomes. Amongst the lingering effects associated with
chronic stress exposure, increasingly, studies are identifying a link to adverse pregnancy
and neonatal outcomes. This review explores what has been uncovered in the field to
date, and examines the effects of stress on fertility and gestation. Establishing
additional factors which put women at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes can aid
in identifying a vulnerable population who could benefit from early stress-reducing
interventions.
Keywords
stress - infertility - pregnancy loss - spontaneous preterm birth - low birth weight
- hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
