Influence of Antibiotic Use on Mental Health During Pregnancy
-Research points to association between antibiotic exposure and maternal psychological distress in early-to mid-pregnancy-
Summary
With perinatal or birth period depression being linked to maternal well-being and child development, researchers examined whether antibiotic use might be linked to mental health during pregnancy. An analysis of data from approximately 94,000 participants found that antibiotic use before and during early pregnancy was associated with higher odds of psychological distress, with a stepwise pattern observed. The findings may inform discussions about appropriate antibiotic use among women planning pregnancy.
- Image title： Large-Scale Study Examines Antibiotic Use and Psychological Distress in Pregnancy Caption: Analysis of 94,490 pregnant women enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study shows that antibiotic use before and during pregnancy was associated with a higher likelihood of psychological distress during early- to mid-pregnancy.
- Credit： Prof. Kenta Matsumura from the University of Toyama, Japan
- License type： Original content
- Usage restrictions： Cannot be reused without permission.
Research Details
Influence of Antibiotic Use on Mental Health During Pregnancy[PDF, 493KB]
Reference
Title of original paper
Periconceptional antibiotic use and early- to mid-pregnancy psychological distress in a nationwide birth cohort: cross-sectional analysis from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Journal
BMC Public Health
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-26119-0
Additional information for EurekAlert
Latest Article Publication Date
10 January 2026
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
People
Conflicts of Interest Statement
The authors declare no competing interests.
Media contact
Yumiko Kato
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