For many people, stress is an unfortunate yet constant fact of life. From job-related pressures to home life demands, the average individual tends to find himself under some amount of stress for the vast majority of the year. As taxing as life in general might be, when a couple begins having problems with fertility, their stress level tends to immediately skyrocket.
Dr. John Nichols is an infertility specialist at South Carolina’s Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group, P.A. (PREG), a facility that caters to couples facing infertility and reproductive issues, and according to him, stress and infertility are two concepts that tend to go hand in hand. After all, the longer a couple is unable to conceive, the more its collective stress level tends to build up. In fact, some research has shown that women undergoing treatment for infertility tend to have similar stress levels to those dealing with life-threatening illnesses.
There’s no question that infertility can be a direct cause of stress, but some might wonder if the opposite holds true: Can stress actually cause infertility? According to Dr. Nichols, little medical evidence indicates that infertility can be directly caused by stress. However, high stress levels in women can cause hormonal fluctuations, which can result in irregular ovulation. This, in turn, can make the timing of intercourse a lot more challenging on the pregnancy front. Additionally, some studies have shown that in rare cases, high stress levels could potentially cause fallopian tube spasms in women and a decrease in the production of sperm in men.
Of course, the problem with stress is that it tends to lend itself to a rather vicious cycle. In situations relating to infertility, the inability to conceive can lead the parties involved to experience an additional load of stress. The added stress can then cause hormonal issues which might make the act of conceiving even more difficult, which, in turn, can contribute to…even more stress. Therefore, Dr. Nichols thinks that it’s important for couples affected by infertility to minimize their stress quotients. While it might be impossible to simply snap one’s fingers and make stress disappear, here are a few ways for couples to reduce infertility-related stress:
Talk to each other
Some people faced with infertility tend to go so overboard trying to be strong for one another that they end up causing themselves more stress in the process by keeping their emotions bottled up. If you and your partner are having trouble conceiving, then talk about your feelings and learn to lean on each other for support. By venting as necessary, you can actually do your part to reduce your stress load and clear your heads in the process.
Exercise frequently
Many doctors agree that one of the best ways to combat stress is to exercise regularly. Exercise tends to result in the release of endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that can help elevate one’s mood and reduce stress in the process. Another benefit of exercise on the conception front is that it can actually help increase your chances of getting pregnant. By keeping yourself as healthy as possible, you can put your body in the best position to welcome a baby into your womb.
Participate in stress-reducing activities
Another good way to minimize stress is to engage in activities that are specifically designed to serve this very purpose. Yoga and meditation are both great ways to reduce anxiety and make yourself feel better overall. If you’re not really the type to channel your feelings in that particular manner, then consider treating yourself and your partner to a day at the spa. After all, nothing makes stress disappear like aromatherapy and massage.
Get the facts about infertility and treatment options
One reason why infertility is so stressful is that it essentially takes away people’s control. To combat this, get the facts about your particular source of infertility and learn what treatment options are available given the circumstances. By arming yourself with knowledge, you can regain some of the control you’ve been missing while waiting for that baby to be conceived.
There’s no question about it: Infertility can be stressful. However, by taking steps to reduce your stress load, you’ll be doing your part to keep yourself healthy on both a mental and physical level.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
