Stress hormone levels in women with infertility in the third year of the war in Ukraine

This paper examines the impact of chronic stress caused by the war in Ukraine on the development of mental disorders and impaired reproductive health in women. The study is based on hormonal factors, particularly prolactin and cortisol, in the context of the general adaptation syndrome. War conditions create unique stress effects that disrupt the functioning of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Analysis of changes in hormonal balance is essential to understanding nature's adaptation. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between prolactin and cortisol levels in women with infertility who are under the psychological and emotional impact of war in Ukraine. Materials and methods. The research was conducted using statistical data on air raid alarms and three separate measurements of prolactin and cortisol levels in 23 patients with infertility. Results. Within 108 days of research, 268 airstrikes were announced, causing anxiety over a total duration of 45,873 minutes, with an average duration of 171.2 minutes and a median of 80.5 minutes. The mean prolactin levels were 10.41±0.87, 14.34±1.57, and 20.54±5.24, while cortisol levels were 9.36±1.15, 8.49±0.80, and 9.35±1.71. Baseline prolactin levels correlated with cortisol. Conclusion. The data obtained indicate normalization or reduction of prolactin and cortisol levels, which may suggest the development of stress resistance in patients with infertility or their presence in the second stage of the general adaptation syndrome. The results emphasize the need to revise traditional paradigms of hormonal regulation, stress factors, and infertility. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the institution mentioned in the paper. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.