We all know that stress can wreak havoc on the body and has been linked to all kinds of disorders and diseases. But is there a solid link between stress and infertility? Many medical professionals say no because it’s difficult to measure and there aren’t a lot of studies and research to prove it. But I look at the question from a simple, common sense perspective. If chronic stress has the power to contribute to heart attack, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and a host of other ailments, isn’t it reasonable to believe it could negatively impact a woman’s fertility? I say yes,…and so do others:
Dr. Sarah L. Berga, the chairman of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine, has conducted studies that reveal that chronic stress may hinder ovulation.
Research published in the journal Human Reproduction, doctors compared pregnancy rates in couples that reported being stressed and those who were not. What they found: Pregnancy was much more likely to occur during months when couples reported feeling “good” — happy and relaxed. It was less likely to occur during the months they reported feeling tense or anxious.
Psychologist Alice Domar has done a lot of work in this area. Her latest study revealed that women who participated in a stress management program prior to or during their second IVF cycle had a 160 percent greater pregnancy rate than women who did not participate in a program.
We may not be able to unequivocally prove there’s a link between stress and infertility, but common sense tells us it doesn’t help. So, what can you do today, RIGHT NOW to start relieving some of the stress in your life? For me, it’s leisurely walking my dog, curling up with good fiction and getting a weekly chair massage. How about you?