Can prolonged psychological stress affect female fertility? An animal study from Xi’an Jiaotong University offers a possible clue. Female rats repeatedly exposed to simulated screaming showed reduced ovarian reserve and fertility. The study was published in the endocrinology journal Endocrinology.
Sound-Induced Psychological Stress May Gradually Reduce Fertility Potential
“We created a model of chronic psychological stress in rats using simulated screaming and studied its effects on ovarian reserve,” said Wenyan Xi, PhD, of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. “The results showed that female rats exposed to screaming over a long period had a marked decline in ovarian reserve and reduced ability to conceive.”
Ovarian reserve is an important measure of female reproductive potential and generally reflects the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries. A woman’s supply of eggs is established at birth and does not regenerate. Reduced ovarian reserve can make natural conception more difficult and may also increase the risk of unsuccessful assisted reproductive treatment.
Study Design: How Was the ‘Screaming’ Model Created?
For three consecutive weeks, the research team exposed the study rats to simulated screaming at set times each day. Before and after the intervention, they assessed key reproductive measures:
Sex hormone levels: Estrogen and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels declined significantly. Estrogen plays a central role in female reproductive development, while AMH is widely used to assess ovarian reserve.
Egg quality and quantity: Rats exposed to simulated screaming had fewer follicles and lower-quality oocytes.
Fertility: After mating, rats in the intervention group produced significantly fewer offspring than the control group, indicating impaired fertility.
Interpretation: Emotional Stress May Be an Underrecognized Factor in Ovarian Decline
“These results suggest that chronic psychological stress may contribute to reduced ovarian function,” Dr. Xi said. “In clinical practice, reduced ovarian function is usually considered in relation to age, disease, or lifestyle. This study suggests that psychological factors also deserve attention.”
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is increasingly identified among women with infertility. Many younger women have low AMH levels or a low follicle count without an evident physiological cause. This study offers another possible avenue for research.
The team said future clinical studies may clarify whether chronic stress is directly associated with ovarian reserve in humans. “We hope this research will provide a new direction for interventions in reproductive medicine and increase awareness of the less visible effects of prolonged psychological stress,” Dr. Xi added.
Research Team and Funding
The study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education. Team members also included Hui Mao, Haoyan Yao, and Ruiting Shi of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, and Zhiwei Cui of the First Affiliated Hospital.
News | Chronic Stress May Reduce Ovarian Reserve: ‘Screaming’ Experiment Raises Fertility Concerns
News | Chronic Stress May Reduce Ovarian Reserve: ‘Screaming’ Experiment Raises Fertility Concerns
Can prolonged psychological stress affect female fertility? An animal study from Xi’an Jiaotong University offers a possible clue. Female rats repeatedly exposed to simulated screaming showed reduced ovarian reserve and fertility. The study was published in the endocrinology journal Endocrinology.
Sound-Induced Psychological Stress May Gradually Reduce Fertility Potential
“We created a model of chronic psychological stress in rats using simulated screaming and studied its effects on ovarian reserve,” said Wenyan Xi, PhD, of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. “The results showed that female rats exposed to screaming over a long period had a marked decline in ovarian reserve and reduced ability to conceive.”
Ovarian reserve is an important measure of female reproductive potential and generally reflects the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries. A woman’s supply of eggs is established at birth and does not regenerate. Reduced ovarian reserve can make natural conception more difficult and may also increase the risk of unsuccessful assisted reproductive treatment.
Study Design: How Was the ‘Screaming’ Model Created?
For three consecutive weeks, the research team exposed the study rats to simulated screaming at set times each day. Before and after the intervention, they assessed key reproductive measures:
Sex hormone levels: Estrogen and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels declined significantly. Estrogen plays a central role in female reproductive development, while AMH is widely used to assess ovarian reserve.
Egg quality and quantity: Rats exposed to simulated screaming had fewer follicles and lower-quality oocytes.
Fertility: After mating, rats in the intervention group produced significantly fewer offspring than the control group, indicating impaired fertility.
Interpretation: Emotional Stress May Be an Underrecognized Factor in Ovarian Decline
“These results suggest that chronic psychological stress may contribute to reduced ovarian function,” Dr. Xi said. “In clinical practice, reduced ovarian function is usually considered in relation to age, disease, or lifestyle. This study suggests that psychological factors also deserve attention.”
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is increasingly identified among women with infertility. Many younger women have low AMH levels or a low follicle count without an evident physiological cause. This study offers another possible avenue for research.
The team said future clinical studies may clarify whether chronic stress is directly associated with ovarian reserve in humans. “We hope this research will provide a new direction for interventions in reproductive medicine and increase awareness of the less visible effects of prolonged psychological stress,” Dr. Xi added.
Research Team and Funding
The study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education. Team members also included Hui Mao, Haoyan Yao, and Ruiting Shi of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, and Zhiwei Cui of the First Affiliated Hospital.
Story source:
Collected online