Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most important postpartum mood disorder due to its significant effect on both the infant and family health. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been suggested as a hormonal agent involved in the development of depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the plasma concentrations of AVP and the score of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016–2017 in Darehshahr Township, Ilam Province, Iran. In the first phase, 303 pregnant women, who were at 38 weeks, met the inclusion criteria, and were not depressed (according to their EPDS scores) were included in the study. In the 6–8 week postpartum follow-up, using the EPDS, 31 depressed individuals were diagnosed and referred to a psychiatrist for confirmation. The maternal venous blood samples of 24 depressed individuals still meeting the inclusion criteria and 66 randomly selected non-depressed subjects were obtained to measure their AVP plasma concentrations with ELISA assay. There was a significant positive relationship between plasma AVP levels and the EPDS score (P = 0.000, r = 0.658). Also the mean plasma concentration of AVP was significantly higher in the depressed group (41.35 ± 13.75 ng/ml) than in the non-depressed group (26.01 ± 7.83 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). In a multiple logistic regression model for various parameters, increased vasopressin levels were associated with increased odds of PPD (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.07–1.24, P = 0.000). Furthermore, multiparity (OR = 5.45, 95% CI = 1.21–24.43, P = 0.027) and non-exclusive breastfeeding (OR = 13.06, 95% CI = 1.36–125, P = 0.026) were associated with increased odds of PPD. Maternal gender preference (having a baby of desired and desired sex) decreased the odds of PPD (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02–0.79, P = 0.027 and OR = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.01–0.5, P = 0.007). AVP seems to be a contributor to clinical PPD by affecting the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Furthermore, primiparous women had significantly lower EPDS scores.

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that affects approximately 5-20% of women of childbearing age. Physical and psychological changes caused by PCOS might impair women’s sexual function. Infertility is one of the most important complications that may be seen in women with PCOS. This study aimed to compare sexual function in fertile and infertile women with PCOS diagnosis.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 364 fertile and 239 infertile women that diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria from May 2018 to February 2019. All participants were asked to fill out included demographic survey and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires.Result: The mean total FSFI score in fertile and infertile women was 23.70±6.26 and 24.65±4.04, respectively. With regard to FSFI, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant in terms of total FSFI score, desire, lubrication, satisfaction, and arousal score (P>0.05). However, the pain score, was significantly higher in the fertile group. (3.51±1.27, 3.10±1.11, P<0.001). Conclusion: Impaired sexual function in infertile women diagnosed with PCOS can be more associated with PCOS-related complications and other concurrent factors that affects sexual function rather than infertility. It seems that the effects of infertility on sexual function can be different in infertile women according to each person's condition. Hence, screening for sexual dysfunction in women with PCOS and infertility should be deemed as a part of clinical assessment, leading to early diagnosing and improving their quality of life.

Background: Considering that interventions related to lifestyle, especially nutrition have been proposed as the first line of prevention and treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and regarding the proven relationship between PCOS and inflammation, the present study was designed to find out the possible association of Diet Inflammatory Index (DII) with the inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6, and compare the obtained results in women with and without PCOS. Method: This case-control study was conducted on 45 PCOS women and 40 non-PCOS women. Food intake and DII were measured using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire. All participants were tested for the serum levels of Interleukin-6 and CRP. Finally, the obtained results were compared between the two groups of PCOS and non-PCOS women. Results: Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, menstrual status and number of pregnancies (P<0.05). Comparison of DII value showed no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.68), but Interleukin-6 was significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the control group (4.94±1.97 vs. 3.48±1.77, P<0.001). Also in terms of CRP, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: Although the difference of DII between the case and control groups and its association with PCOS was not significant in the current study, it seems that diet, especially consumption of more carbohydrates plays a role in causing chronic inflammation and occurrence and exacerbation of PCOS.

Background Postpartum depression is the most important postpartum mood disorder due to its significant effects on infant and family health. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been suggested as a hormonal agent involved in depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma concentrations of AVP and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score. Methods This longitudinal correlational study was conducted in 2016–2017 in Darehshahr Township, Ilam Province, Iran. In the first phase, 303 pregnant women who were at 38 weeks, met the inclusion criteria, and were not depressed (according to their Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores) were included in the study. In the 6–8 weeks’ postpartum follow-up, using the Edinburgh questionnaire, 31 depressed individuals were diagnosed and referred to a psychiatrist for confirmation. The maternal venous blood samples of 24 depressed individuals who still met the inclusion criteria and 66 randomly selected non-depressed subjects was obtained by the researchers to measure AVP plasma concentrations with ELISA assay. Results The mean plasma concentration of AVP was significantly higher in the depressed group (41.35 ± 13.75 ng/ml) than in the non-depressed group (26.01 ± 7.83 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). In a multiple logistic regression model for various parameters, increased Vassopressin levels were associated with increased odds of postpartum depression (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.07–1.24, P = 0.000). Furthermore, multiparity (OR = 5.45, 95% CI = 1.21–24.43, P = 0.027) and no exclusive breastfeeding (OR = 13.06, 95% CI = 1.36–125, P = 0.026) associated with increased odds of postpartum depression. Gender preference (having a baby non-desired and desired sex) decreased odds of postpartum depression (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02–0.79, P = 0.027 and OR = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.01–0.5, P = 0.007). Conclusion AVP may be a contributor to clinical postpartum depression by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Furthermore, primiparous women had significantly lower EPDS scores.

Background: Postpartum depression is the most important postpartum mood disorder due to its significant effects on infant and family health. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been suggested as a hormonal agent involved in depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma concentrations of AVP and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score.Methods: This longitudinal correlational study was conducted in 2016-2017 in Darehshahr Township, Ilam Province, Iran. In the first phase, 303 pregnant women who were at 38 weeks, met the inclusion criteria, and were not depressed (according to their Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores) were included in the study. In the 6-8 weeks’ postpartum follow-up, using the Edinburgh questionnaire, 31 depressed individuals were diagnosed and referred to a psychiatrist for confirmation. The maternal venous blood samples of 24 depressed individuals who still met the inclusion criteria and 66 randomly selected non-depressed subjects was obtained by the researchers to measure AVP plasma concentrations with ELISA assay. Results: The mean plasma concentration of AVP was significantly higher in the depressed group (41.35±13.75 ng/ml) than in the non-depressed group (26.01±7.83 ng/ml) (P<0.001). In a multiple logistic regression model for various parameters, increased Vassopressin levels were associated with increased odds of postpartum depression (OR=1.15, 95% CI=1.07–1.24, P=0.000). Furthermore, multiparity (OR=5.45, 95% CI=1.21-24.43, P=0.027) and no exclusive breastfeeding (OR=13.06, 95% CI=1.36–125, P=0.026) associated with increased odds of postpartum depression. Gender preference (having a baby non-desired and desired sex) decreased odds of postpartum depression (OR=0.13, 95% CI=0.02-0.79, P=0.027 and OR=0.08, 95% CI=0.01-0.5, P=0.007).Conclusion: AVP may be a contributor to clinical postpartum depression by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Furthermore, primiparous women had significantly lower EPDS scores.