The association between early life adversity and bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine associations between chronic preconception psychosocial and socioeconomic stress with bacterial vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy. Study Design Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, childhood abuse and neglect, chronic discrimination, childhood socioeconomic status, potential confounders, and BV were assessed at 14-16 and 19-22 weeks gestation in a cohort of 312 pregnant women. Results Persistent BV (BV positive at both time points versus no BV at either time point) was associated with childhood sexual abuse (CSA), chronic discrimination, and lack of parental home ownership. These associations were still present after covarying for current perceived stress, socioeconomic status, and other potential confounders. Conclusion There is evidence that BV during pregnancy is independently linked with early life psychosocial adversity, suggesting that a life course perspective may be important in elucidating determinants of perinatal outcomes.

Maternal Exposure to Childhood Trauma Is Associated During Pregnancy With Placental-Fetal Stress Physiology

“…Previous studies have established an association between a woman’s history of CT exposure and the subsequent course and outcome of her pregnancy (56, 64, 65), maternal psychological states and conditions in pregnancy (depression, anxiety, PTSD (57, 66)), and maternal gestational physiology (endocrine, immune/inflammatory state) (56, 67–69). The current findings extend this research to the physiological function of the placental-fetal unit, which is a critical link in making the case for the biological plausibility of intergenerational transmission during the intrauterine period of life.…”

Pregnant Women With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Risk of Preterm Birth

“…Bacterial vaginosis has a well-documented association with preterm birth, and risk of this infection during pregnancy is linked to early life adversity, lifetime trauma, and maternal stress. 63–66 …”

Intergenerational Transmission of Maternal Childhood Maltreatment Exposure: Implications for Fetal Brain Development

“…85,86 Women exposed to physical and/or sexual abuse have been reported during pregnancy to have increased cortisol concentrations in hair (a measure of cumulative cortisol production). 87 Pregnant women with a history of CM also are more likely to develop conditions in pregnancy such as depression, 12,56,88 sleep disturbances, 89 and certain obstetric complications 15,90 that, in turn, are associated with altered MPF endocrine and immune/inflammatory stress biology. 91 We recently published the first study that established an association between a woman’s exposure to maltreatment in her own childhood and placental-fetal stress physiology during pregnancy (the magnitude and production of placental corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH, a hormone directly implicated in key developmental processes in the fetal brain and other peripheral systems).…”