Effect of pregnancy hormones on pain perception in the peripartum period: A narrative review
Pregnancy is a period marked by significant hormonal fluctuations, which can influence pain perception. There are only a limited number of analgesic options that are considered safe for newborns and mothers. Understanding the impact of pregnancy hormones on pain sensitivity can be crucial for effect...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/joacp.joacp_174_24 |
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| Summary: | Pregnancy is a period marked by significant hormonal fluctuations, which can influence pain perception. There are only a limited number of analgesic options that are considered safe for newborns and mothers. Understanding the impact of pregnancy hormones on pain sensitivity can be crucial for effective pain management during childbirth and the postpartum period. The literature shows encouraging evidence of the role of pregnancy hormones on pain modulation, with some studies suggesting a potential reduction in pain sensitivity. Studies have shown progesterone to be associated with reduced post-cesarean pain scores and anesthesia requirements, while oxytocin levels inversely correlated with post-cesarean pain severity in some studies. However, the overall evidence remains inconclusive, indicating a need for further research to elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying hormonal modulation of pain perception during pregnancy and postpartum accurately. This narrative review summarizes the available literature to provide insights into the mechanisms and role of pregnancy hormones including progesterone, estrogen, and oxytocin in pain modulation during pregnancy, delivery, and the peripartum period. Future research should focus on clarifying the mechanisms through which pregnancy hormones influence pain perception and identifying individual factors that may contribute to variability in pain sensitivity among pregnant individuals. Well-designed randomized controlled trials should be planned to evaluate the effect of hormonal therapy on pain modulation in the peripartum period. This knowledge would help to generate evidence and design pain management protocols for obstetric patients. |
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| ISSN: | 0970-9185 2231-2730 |