How Stress From Infertility Can Make It Worse
For those experiencing fertility problems, stress is not an uncommon occurrence
. It is an absolutely normal reaction to the situation and difficulties face when trying to conceive. Now, after years of study, there is still a question that needs answered: How does stress affect infertility?
The understanding of how stress does or does not impact fertility is something that has changed over the years. In the 40s and 50s, stress was considered the major contributing factor for 50% of those who failed to conceive. Throughout the 60's, psychological factors such as ambivalence toward parenthood were thought to play a role in infertility. Fertility treatment centers of today continue the argument of how stress affects fertility and to what degree.
What Exactly is Stress?
When most people refer to stress, they mean the body's reaction to a circumstance in the environment that causes a reaction, usually associated with a negative reaction, within our body. Most of our body's reaction to stress is biological. The rise in blood pressure, muscles tensing, and shallow breathing are examples.
How Might Stress be Related to Infertility?
Though not yet completely understood, fertility treatment center studies do support stress as being a contributing factor in some cases of infertility. The hypothalamus, which regulates those stress responses, also controls and regulates sex hormones. The stress response in both men and women may be impacted as the levels of stress hormones are released causing both irregular ovulation as well as reducing sperm counts in men. It is thought it plays a role in up to 30% of cases of infertility.
Impacts of Stress
- Lower semen volume
- Lower sperm count
- Irregular ovulation
- Lowered LH and testosterone
- Reduced sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Lethargy
Does Stress Cause Infertility or Infertility Cause Stress?
Doubtless, if you ask any couple in a fertility treatment center, fertility problems cause stress! It is not possible to separate emotional and physical responses. That is what makes life. This can make the question about stress a rather touchy one. Well meaning friends and relatives urging a couple to "just relax and it will happen" may be following the assumption that stress causes infertility, which puts a great deal of responsibility on the couple trying to conceive.
While fertility treatment center studies do support a link between stress and infertility, it is better understood as that it could be a contributing factor, rather than the sole, lone cause of infertility. Couples should know that if stress was a reliable or major diagnosis for infertility, it would actually be the best birth control out there.
Managing Stress
Most fertility treatment centers will counsel that a couple experiencing fertility problems will most certainly encounter moments of stress and emotional upset. While it is possible to for this stress to impact fertility treatments, it is equally possible to manage the stress successfully.
- Remember the stress response is not always bad. It can actually motivate you to act further.
- Regular exercise is a great stress reliever
- Sunshine, in limited amounts is also known to elevate the mood
- Support Groups allow you to surround yourself with people who understand and limit feelings of isolation
- Proper nutrition gives the body what it needs to process stress effectively
Stress and infertility are forever complexly entwined. Rather than trying to blame infertility on stress, minimize unhealthy stress where possible and use healthy stress to motivate you to greater positive action.
by: Andi Beark
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