Sex steroid levels and stress-related markers in pregnant and non-pregnant women and the effect of periodontal therapy.

Background: Periodontal disease during pregnancy can produce adverse events; in the current study stress was investigated as an exacerbating factors of periodontal disease. The aims of this study were to evaluate the possible associations between stress and pregnancy through scanning for gingivitis and to explore the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NPT) on stress-related markers (CgA, AA, β-endorphin, DHEA, sIgA and NPY) and sex steroid levels (estrogen and progesterone) in pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Material and methods: A total of 87 subjects; 22 pregnant women with gingivitis, 25 periodontally healthy pregnant women; 22 non-pregnant women with gingivitis and 15 periodontally healthy non-pregnant women, participated in this study. Periodontal clinical measures, stress hormones and sex steroid levels were measured at baseline and following the periodontal therapy.

Results: While periodontal therapy showed an improvement in salivary CgA, AA, β-endorphin, DHEA, and sIgA levels (p<0.05) in non-pregnant women with gingivitis; neuropeptide Y levels were found to be unaffected (p>0.05). There were no significant changes in salivary CgA, AA, DHEA, sIgA, and neuropeptide Y levels in pregnant women with gingivitis (p>0.05); however, a decrease in β-endorphin levels was observed after therapy (p<0.05). Pregnant women with gingivitis had higher gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) β-endorphin levels in comparison to non-pregnant women with gingivitis.

Conclusions: Gingival inflammation can be a psychosocial stress inducing factor during pregnancy. Furthermore, periodontal therapy may assist in reducing stress-related hormone levels in GCF during pregnancy.