Cytokines as a Stress Marker in Infertility Patients – A Perspective

Psychological stress might play a crucial role in infertility and miscarriage. Infertile women have greater vulnerability to psychological stressors, which may lead to major depressive disorder. Psychological stress acts as a trigger for anxiety and depression disorders. Acute or chronic stress could act as a risk factor and lead to increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which causes changes in the neurotransmitter system and may be involved in the development of depression. Some studies have shown that pro-inflammatory cytokines can be elevated during psychological stress. However, their reliability as a stress marker is still in query.