Stress Experiences during Pregnancy and Fibromyalgia

by Groshan Fabiola

Without any doubt, experiences while in the womb have a great influence on the development of the child at later stages in life. The connection between undesirable events during the prenatal period and the occurrence of physiological or psychological impairments soon after birth, later in childhood or at maturity has been confirmed by a wide variety of medical studies conducted in the recent past. Factors such as viral infections, poor nutrition, physical traumas (due to mechanical shocks or abnormal positioning in the womb), poor oxygenation of the fetus’ brain can all determine serious post-natal impairments, rendering babies who have had unfortunate experiences while in the womb susceptible of developing a wide range of disorders.

Recent discoveries have suggested that even psychological, emotional stress experienced during pregnancy can have long-term consequences on the fetus. According to recent studies, children born to mothers who have been confronted with intense stress over the entire period of pregnancy are exposed to a very high risk of developing fibromyalgia at later stages in life.

Fibromyalgia is still a very intriguing disorder at present, medical scientists lacking conclusive data about its exact causes, risk factors and manifestations. In the absence of accurate, precise medical data about fibromyalgia, doctors encounter major impediments when it comes to diagnosing and treating the disorder. Fibromyalgia is considered to be a neurological disease with a pronounced hereditary character. The disease is primarily manifested by intense, recidivating muscular pain and pronounced emotional stress.

For some reason, psychological stress and impairments of the musculoskeletal system go hand in hand in case of patients with fibromyalgia, who are often faced with depression at more advanced stages of disease. Apart from the psychological impairments determined by fibromyalgia, the disease can sometimes cause severe dysfunctions of the muscles, leading to temporary or permanent disability. Another intriguing characteristic of fibromyalgia is that it predominantly affects the female gender, registering the highest incidence in women with ages between 20 and 40.

According to the results of a series of studies presented at the 6th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, baby girls born to mothers who have been confronted with intense psychological stress during pregnancy are very likely to develop fibromyalgia at maturity. The studies, led by professor Dirk Hellhammer at the University of Trier, Germany, suggest that the hormone cortisol may play a very important role in the process.

The results of the studies indicate that stress experienced during pregnancy may determine impairments in the development of the foetus's adrenal gland, interfering with the production of the hormone cortisol. Due to impaired development of the adrenal gland while in the womb, children born to mothers who have been confronted with sustained emotional stress during pregnancy may have lower levels of cortisol, thus being more susceptible of experiencing the symptoms of fibromyalgia at certain stages in life.

The majority of today’s patients with fibromyalgia have reported that their mothers had suffered from intense stress during pregnancy, thus confirming the newly developed theories. Medical scientists have also discovered clear evidence that persons (mostly women) with a history of prenatal psychological stress have considerably lower levels of the hormone cortisol compared to other persons. Although further medical research is needed, the recently conducted studies have clearly revealed the fact that persons with a history of prenatal psychological stress are exposed to a very high risk of developing fibromyalgia at a certain point in life.

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