You are probably familiar with the stress and anxiety that comes with trying to conceive a baby. It is difficult to put into words the sadness and anxiety that comes to mind when you wait for months and your efforts are unsuccessful. In the meantime, when someone comes and says, "Oh, don't think so much, just relax," you probably get angry, right? But is there any truth to this story? Does stress really affect the ability to conceive a child? Today, we will talk about this in more depth.
A good example of this is the experience of a woman named Yurit. She had been trying to have a baby for two years. During this time, she had conceived four times, but each time, her hopes were dashed midway through the pregnancy. She had tried both natural and IVF methods. “There’s nothing more frustrating than not knowing why this is happening,” Yurit says. “I wanted a baby so badly that if someone had told me that I could have a baby by standing on my head or drinking gallons of green juice, I would have done it.”
One day, while she was undergoing treatment, she saw a poster for a program that would help women who were trying to conceive, and she signed up for it. The program lasted 10 weeks, and included yoga, meditation, and other exercises that taught her how to overcome negative thoughts. A few months after the program ended, Yurit conceived again. In 2018, she became the mother of a healthy daughter. “I used to get angry when someone told me to relax, but in my case, it really helped,” she says. “I stopped feeling like my body was my enemy.”
What is the scientific connection between stress and fertility?
There are many reasons why some people have children quickly and others have difficulty. But new research shows that there is a direct link between a woman's daily stress and her reduced ability to conceive .
Simply put, when we are under high stress, our body thinks this is a dangerous, unsafe, and stressful time.
Your body is very smart. It knows that a time of high stress is not a good time to have a baby. So the body naturally pushes back the reproductive process a little.
In one study, women's saliva samples were tested and found that women with high levels of an enzyme called alpha-amylase, which is a marker of stress , took 29% longer to get pregnant than those with low levels of the enzyme.
Similarly, when we are stressed, we release stress hormones like cortisol, which disrupt the signaling system between our brain and ovaries. This can cause ovulation, the process of releasing an egg, to become irregular or stop altogether.
In addition to this, there are other practical reasons.
- A stressed couple may have less sex.
- Some people turn to things like smoking, drinking too much alcohol , or drinking coffee due to stress. These habits are not good for the baby.
In the early days, even doctors didn't accept that the mind could control the body. But today, the medical community has widely accepted that there is a link between stress and fertility.
So what do we do about this stress?
We all experience stress at some point in our lives. Being stressed for a few weeks over a job problem or the stress of moving house won't have a big impact on your ability to have a child.
However, if this stress lasts for a long time , or if you are dealing with a major shock, such as losing a job or the death of a family member, your ovulation process may be completely disrupted.
About one in 10 women of childbearing age will have difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term. Often, this is due to a physical cause, such as blocked fallopian tubes.
But when you try for months and fail to conceive, it becomes a huge stressor.
Research has found that the level of stress and depression experienced by women suffering from infertility is similar to that of a woman diagnosed with cancer or HIV.
This is like a vicious cycle. Not having children creates stress. That stress makes having children even later.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga, and meditation can help break this cycle. They help you identify, challenge, and change negative thoughts like "I'll never be able to have a baby," "It's all my fault," and help you change them.
What else can you do?
If you've been trying to have a baby for a while, or just want to increase your chances, research shows that these things can help. Let's look at them in a table.
| What to do | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| Exercise "count" | Physical activity reduces stress and increases fertility. But it's important to do it "in moderation." Moderate exercise , such as walking for 1-5 hours a week, can increase your chances of getting pregnant. But excessive, strenuous exercise can sometimes have even more negative effects. |
| Control your body weight | When stress levels rise, some people turn to food to comfort themselves. But obesity is a major obstacle to getting pregnant and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. According to some research, obese women are three times more likely to have difficulty conceiving than others. |
| Eat a healthy diet. | It's normal to crave sweet, processed foods when you're feeling down. But research shows that women who eat a Mediterranean-style diet, which includes whole grains, fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and soy, are more likely to conceive than those who eat a refined, high-fat diet. |
| Talk to your partner and doctor. | This is not a problem you face alone. Your partner is also a part of this journey. Listening to each other and sharing your feelings can help reduce stress. Also, talk openly with your doctor about this. If necessary, don't hesitate to seek counseling. |
Ultimately, expecting a baby is a sensitive and challenging journey. It's important to take good care of your body and mind during this journey.
Take-Home Message
- Stress is a factor that really affects fertility. It can disrupt hormonal function and ovulation.
- It is important not to get caught in the vicious cycle of stress over not having children, and that stress leading to further delays in having children.
- Managing stress through methods such as yoga, meditation, and psychotherapy can increase your chances of conceiving a child.
- Moderate exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a nutritious diet will keep you strong both physically and mentally.
- You are not alone in this journey. Talk openly about this with your partner, family, and especially your doctor.
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