Estradiol and progesterone from pregnancy to postpartum: a longitudinal latent class analysis

This study provides insights into the course and fluctuation of salivary estradiol and progesterone levels among healthy women during the peripartum period, highlighting significant variations in hormone levels but stability in their ratio during this time. The finding of distinct sex steroid courses in the peripartum is new and suggests the need for further research to explore their impact on health outcomes. Our preliminary results suggest that hormonal fluctuations at the end of pregnancy appear to be a normal occurrence and might even be a protective factor for associated psychological symptoms and sleep disturbances in women.