Many couples struggle to conceive, even after years of trying, while others find it a simple process. Numerous elements affect the ability to conceive, with stress being a significant one. It may not stop you from getting pregnant, but it can delay the process. Research shows that stress can negatively affect pregnancy chances, even during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments essential.
How Stress Affects Fertility
Hormonal Disorder:
When under stress, the body releases cortisol, a vital hormone that is involved in the body’s response to danger. Long-term stress can affect reproductive hormones such as testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. In which it causes an increase in cortisol. This can make it harder for men to produce sperm. It can also make it difficult for women to release eggs. This complicates the process of getting pregnant.
Impact on Ovulation:
Stress in women can lead to anovulation, meaning the ovaries don’t release an egg during their menstrual cycle. Elevated stress hormone levels can also delay or completely stop ovulation, lowering the chances of conception. Additionally, even if ovulation takes place, stress may affect the egg’s quality, making a successful pregnancy less likely.
Sperm quality:
Men who are under a lot of stress all the time may produce less, lower-quality sperm in terms of count and motility. Low testosterone from high cortisol can cause problems with libido and erectile function. In addition to increasing the difficulty of conception, poor sperm may increase the risk of miscarriage.
Psychological and Emotional Impact
Stress can lead to a cycle in which the emotional burden of being infertile becomes a source of stress itself. Couples who are trying for a child often experience negative feelings such as anger, sadness, and regret, which might worsen the issue.
How to manage stress to improve fertility
Learn:
Educate yourself about the normal responses to infertility. Talk to other people going through infertility. Learn about your health situation and inquire about possible treatment choices.
Counselling and Support:
Seeking emotional support from a therapist or counsellor can be immensely helpful for couples facing fertility challenges. Counselling can provide coping strategies, emotional relief, and a sense of empowerment. Support groups also offer a space to share experiences and reduce feelings of isolation.
Talk it out:
Share your feelings and needs with your partner, allowing them to handle their emotions as they see fit. Talk about your differences and avoid arguments. Keep in touch with your family and friends to avoid feeling isolated.
Talk to others about your situation without sharing too much, and tell them how they can support you.
Exercises for relaxation
The fight-or-flight reaction and the relaxation response are the two ways the body responds. Just like in a tense situation, your body activates the fight-or-flight response upon detecting a threat. At the same time, the relaxation response is characterized by a profound feeling of tranquility. These practices can be beneficial for managing different stressors, including the emotional distress caused by infertility.
Take care of your health:
Ensure you schedule a yearly check-up with a doctor. Maintain a nutritious diet, engage in physical activity, ensure you’re getting enough rest, and set aside moments for unwinding.
Mind-Body Techniques: Practices such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can reduce stress by calming the nervous system. These steps promote awareness and calmness, which helps to interrupt chronic stress and restore hormone balance.
Regular Physical Activity: Exercises reduce stress naturally. It improves general health, raises the synthesis of mood-enhancing endorphins, and lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Nutritious Diet: Getting enough nutrients is crucial for handling stress and boosting fertility. Eating foods high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals can help stabilize hormone levels and improve reproductive health. Eating foods rich in omega-3s, like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds, can help improve mental health.
Sleep Hygiene : Quality sleep is essential for stress management and hormone regulation. Aim to sleep for atleast 7-8 hours. Establishing a regular sleep routine and creating a healthy environment can help improve sleep quality and reduce stress.
How Stress Management Can Improve Pregnancy
In brief, managing stress may improve fertility. In any case, the impact of overseeing push on the rate of ripeness has not been well-studied. Most accessible investigation recommends that there is a positive impact. Mind-body barrenness programs have appeared to move forward the pregnancy rates in ladies with barrenness.
A study showed that 55% of ladies included in a mind-body program seem to get pregnant, compared to 20% of ladies who were not in such a program.
Conclusion
Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but when it lasts a long time, it can negatively impact one’s capacity to become pregnant. By implementing stress-reduction techniques into your everyday life, you can improve the conditions that will maximize fertility.
Remember, dealing with stress is not just about boosting your chances of getting pregnant—it also has a vital part in bettering your overall well-being and happiness in life. If stress and infertility start to become an issue for you, our experts at Kanaa Fertility are here to assist. Visit our website to find out more about our comprehensive approach to fertility care and how we can help you along the way
Dr B.Priya Kalyani
MBBS., DGO, DNB (OG)
Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist