Endocrinology of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium. Narrative Review

Abstract

Objective: To review the hormonal mechanisms that control pregnancy, from the implantation process to the postpartum period. Methods: A systematic review of scientific articles published from 2020 to the present was conducted, using the main platforms and databases Medline via PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar and Cochrane Plus, searching for articles with primary information. Results: After selecting the articles found in the databases, 26 were extracted for inclusion in this review. The articles are grouped according to information corresponding to hormonal influence during pregnancy, endocrinological changes during delivery and endocrine modifications during the postpartum period. Conclusion: Endocrine homeostasis is a fundamental factor for a successful pregnancy and its favorable outcome, being the fetoplacental unit who plays a crucial role in mediation of maternal physiological adaptation to pregnancy.