Researchers looked at data collected between 1990 and 1996 from a larger study investigating heart disease risk, and pulled data from 555 women who were 24 years old on average when they gave birth. Researchers studied that data for links between race, preterm birth and pre-pregnancy depressive mood. The data showed that 18.1 percent of the 249 black women gave birth prematurely – at less than 37 weeks gestation – compared to 8.5 percent among the 306 white participants.

The prevalence of pre-pregnancy depression was also higher among black women compared with white women – 9.4 percent compared to 7.2 percent, respectively. Researchers say the findings suggest that a woman’s overall health must be viewed when considering reproductive outcomes.

But it also points to a need for health care professionals to address a woman’s emotional presence especially if she is pregnant or considering pregnancy. Depression during pregnancy can be dangerous for both the mother and her unborn child, leading to poor nutrition; dependence on alcohol, drugs or cigarettes; and suicidal behavior, all of which can contribute to premature birth. Psychotherapy and antidepressants are a viable option but doctors and patients must both be advised of the potential risks that antidepressants carry. Some SSRIs commonly used to treat depression, such as Paxil, can increase the risk of birth defects, especially heart defects, which have led manufacturers like GlaxoSmithKline to include warnings of potential birth defects on the medication’s label.

Source: Reuters

SOURCE: Paxil and Pregnancy › Depressed, black women at higher risk of delivering prematurely

The findings are based on a study published in the online journal Fertility & Sterility. It is touted as one of the first studies to investigate the effects of antidepressants on sperm quality. While fertility wasn’t a direct focus of the study, “we can infer that as many as half of men taking SSRIs have a reduced ability to conceive,” says Dr. Peter Schlegel the study’s senior author.

More than a third of participants in the study also reported significant changes in erectile function and ejaculatory difficulties. Both sexual function and compromised sperm DNA returned to normal one month after discontinuation of the antidepressant.

Antidepressants also can have a more serious effect on fertility. Women who take antidepressants during the first trimester of pregnancy are at greater risk of having a baby with serious birth defects. Studies show that while a number of birth defects have resulted from use of antidepressants, paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat) poses the greatest risk to an unborn child. Those defects include cardiac defects such as ventricular septal defects, pulmonary hypertension, omphalocele, and craniosynostosis.

Those who are pregnant or are considering pregnancy should consult with their doctors about any medications, including antidepressants, they are taking. In some cases, doctors may recommend an alternative that is safer for the unborn child and won’t interfere with conception.

SOURCE: Paxil and Pregnancy › Paxil, Seroxat may interfere with man’s ability to conceive