EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHALAMIC–PITUITARY–ADRENAL AXIS AND THE EFFECT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING ON THE PREVENTION OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IN IVF PATIENTS
EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHALAMIC–PITUITARY–ADRENAL AXIS AND THE EFFECT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING ON THE PREVENTION OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IN IVF PATIENTS

Summary/Abstract: Infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are frequently associated with chronic stress, hormonal dysregulation, and emotional vulnerability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and serum cortisol levels as predictors of postpartum depression (PPD) among women undergoing IVF treatment. A prospective comparative study was conducted with 90 participants divided into an IVF group (n = 60) and a spontaneous conception control group (n = 30). The IVF group was additionally divided into women who received psychological counseling and women without counseling. Hormonal analyses and psychometric assessments using the DASS-21 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were performed at baseline and 48 hours postpartum. The findings revealed significant differences in cortisol variability, emotional stability, and depressive symptoms between the groups. Women who received psychological counseling demonstrated lower levels of anxiety and greater hormonal stability. The results support the integration of psychological counseling into standard IVF treatment protocols.

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