Lindsey A. Sjaarda

BACKGROUND: Caffeine is the most frequently used psychoactive substance in the United States and >90% of reproductive-age women report some amount of intake daily. Despite biological plausibility, previous studies on caffeine and fecundabil…

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether prenatal low-dose aspirin (LDA) therapy affects risk of cesarean versus vaginal delivery. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a secondary analysis of the randomized clinical effects of aspirin in gest…

CONTEXT: Diets high in plant-based protein have gained popularity due to increasing health concerns regarding consumption of animal products. Though links between intakes of certain protein-rich foods and reproductive disorders have been su…

STUDY QUESTION: Are insufficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations, and other markers of vitamin D metabolism, associated with premenstrual symptoms in healthy women with regular menstrual cycles? SUMMARY ANSWER: 25(OH)D insuffi…

STUDY QUESTION: Is preconception leukocyte telomere length associated with fecundability, pregnancy loss and live birth among women attempting natural conception with a history of 1-2 prior pregnancy losses? SUMMARY ANSWER: Preconception l…

Evolutionary theory suggests that some animal species may experience shifts in their offspring sex ratio in response to maternal health and environmental conditions, and in some unfavorable conditions, females may be less likely to bear son…

OBJECTIVE: To characterize variation in circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1), across the menstrual cycle in normal ovulating women in relation to reproductive ho…

IMPORTANCE: Dietary supplements marketed for male fertility commonly contain folic acid and zinc based on limited prior evidence for improving semen quality. However, no large-scale trial has examined the efficacy of this therapy for improv…

BACKGROUND: Opioids are commonly prescribed to women of reproductive age, including after delivery and miscarriage. However, to our knowledge, opioid use has not been frequently studied in relation to the common reproductive complications o…

BACKGROUND: Platelet activation may play a role in the pathophysiology of placenta-mediated obstetrical complications, as evidenced by the efficacy of aspirin in preventing preeclampsia, but published data regarding the relationship between…

OBJECTIVE: Obesity has become a major, worldwide public health issue and is associated with a greater risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Leptin, a hormone produced by adipocytes, is elevated in individuals with obesity and may mediate the …

Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is an established marker of ovarian reserve that decreases with age. Though the pool of ovarian follicles is established during fetal development, impacts of in utero exposures on AMH are uncertain. Thus, we sou…

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the association of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) exposure through critical windows of pregnancy establishment with fecundability and pregnancy loss. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study u…

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, although the association between preconception vitamin D concentrations and livebirth is unknown. We aimed to assess the association between pr…

OBJECTIVE: To assess systemic inflammation in relation to fecundability and anovulation. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study among participants in the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction trial who were assigned to the placebo. S…

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the associations of bisphenol A, chlorophenols, benzophenones, and parabens with reproductive hormone levels in women. Our goal was to evaluate the associations between repeated measures of these chemicals …

CONTEXT: Fatty acids (FAs) are important for reproductive processes, including steroidogenesis, though associations with fecundability, as measured by time to pregnancy (TTP), are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between…

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have reported mixed results regarding relationships between vitamin D, androgens, and sex hormone-binding globulin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. However, less is known regarding these associations in …

BACKGROUND: Dairy food intake has been associated with infertility; however, little is known with regard to associations with reproductive hormones or anovulation. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether intakes of dairy foods and specific nutr…

CONTEXT: Inflammation is linked to causes of infertility. Low-dose aspirin (LDA) may improve reproductive success in women with chronic, low-grade inflammation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of preconception-initiated LDA on pregnan…

Human reproduction is an inefficient process. There are several drivers of complications along the path to and during pregnancy, one of which is inflammation. Treatments to mitigate the deleterious effects of aberrant inflammation with some…

BACKGROUND: Overt thyroid dysfunction has been associated with adverse obstetric outcomes. However, less is known regarding subclinical hypothyroidism or thyroid autoimmunity and their relationship to pregnancy complications. OBJECTIVE: Th…

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if antimüllerian hormone (AMH) is associated with pregnancy loss. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study within a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of low-dose aspirin. SETTING: Not applicable. PAT…