| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is known to be altered during pregnancy, but it has not been tested with a natural stressor.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A group of pregnant women (n = 10) were tested towards the end of pregnancy (mean 36.8 ± 2.5 weeks gestation) and about 8 weeks postpartum (mean 7.8 ± 1.5 weeks), together with a matched control group, with a one minute cold hand stressor test. Saliva samples were collected before and 10 and 20 minutes after the test, and stored for later radioimmunoassay of cortisol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The control group showed a highly significant response to the test. The pregnant group showed no response, and the postpartum group a variable but non significant one</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This shows that the HPA axis becomes hypofunctional to a natural stressor at the end of pregnancy. It is suggested that one possible evolutionary function for this is to protect the fetus from the stress responses of the mother.</p>
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