The Role of Serum Oxytocin Levels in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy in the Incidence of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms Publisher Pubmed



Taghizadeh Z ; Rezaei N ; Khalesi Z B
Source: Scientific Reports Published:2026

Abstract

Recent studies have explored the relationship between oxytocin and the risk of postpartum depression (PPD), yet the results have been inconsistent and require further investigation. As a result, this study examined the relationship between oxytocin and postpartum depressive symptoms. This research was a prospective longitudinal study performed et al.-Zahra Hospital (a tertiary facility located in Guilan province in Rasht) from January 2020 to August 2021. The data gathering tool included a demographic survey developed by the researcher and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a self-report screening tool. Participants completed the demographic and Edinburgh questionnaires between 38 and 40 weeks, and venous blood samples were taken from them during this timeframe to evaluate oxytocin levels. The second assessment of postpartum depressive symptoms was conducted in the 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth. The average depression score during the third trimester of pregnancy was 10.51 ± 3.12. After delivery, the majority of the samples (n = 47, 59.5%) showed some degree of depressive symptoms. The average score for PPD was 11.9 ± 3.07. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was utilized to investigate the connection between serum oxytocin levels and the score achieved on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. The results indicated that there was no correlation between third-trimester serum oxytocin levels and postpartum Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) scores. The results of this research indicated that serum oxytocin levels during the third trimester of pregnancy were not significantly linked to the postpartum depressive symptoms. © The Author(s) 2026.