Stress & Fertility

Fertility treatment is stress-generating. Couples experiencing such stress are further concerned with the possibility that stress, in itself, may compromise the chance of treatment success.
It is not clear how exactly stress impacts fertility. It is not known whether high levels of stress can prevent pregnancy or affect a woman’s chance of conceiving. We do know that reducing stress provides a better quality of life during times of intense personal challenge.

What is stress?

Stress is often defined as an event that a person sees/feels is threatening. In order to protect itself, the body responds with a “fight or flight” response.

Can stress impact a fertility patient?

Stress can be a cause &/or consequence of infertility. Stress affects natural conception but doesn’t seem to affect outcomes of assisted reproduction. However, higher cortisol levels as a result of stress seem to affect implantation.

 The one place it is clear that stress can have an impact on fertility is when the stress of fertility problems and treatment leads to a deterioration in love making for a couple, or where there is painful or difficult intercourse, or where people are dissatisfied with their sexual life.

How can I reduce my stress?

Having less stress in your life while pursuing fertility treatment may not, in and of itself, result in a pregnancy. Developing better coping strategies to manage stress related to an infertility diagnosis and treatment can help you feel more in control and improve your overall well-being. It has been shown that stress does interfere with making rational and well-thought-out decisions. Reduced stress is good for your health. While no one expects patients to approach fertility treatment stress-free, finding ways to minimize stress while pursuing treatment can help. Some of the more popular methods recommended to fertility patients are:

• Acupuncture & muscle relaxation
• Aerobic exercise
• Experts’ help in stress & anxiety reduction
• Listening to soft music
• Massage & Relaxation therapy
• Meditation & Yoga/Pranayam
• Mind-body groups
• Limit working hours & know your limits
• Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy
• Self-help books
• Support/educational groups
• Adequate sleep
• Making yourself a priority & engaging in hobbies
• Avoid relationship issues & spend quality time together

Helping a spouse / loved one in stress

Telling patients to be less stressed can make them feel more responsible for “causing” their own infertility and feel blamed. Telling someone to relax can cause greater stress. For many struggling with infertility, just having someone available for listening is greatly appreciated.

It’s important to remember that your partner may also have higher than normal stress levels whilst going through the rollercoaster ride of investigations and treatments. Learn to talk to each other and to share your feelings. Relax together whenever possible. The last thing you need at such a time is relationship problems occurring, so make the effort to keep the romance in your life whenever possible.

The goal of stress reduction is to minimize, not eliminate stress, by finding the technique that serves the patient’s needs the best.