How does stress affect fertility?

Written by Gordon

“Doctors are once more looking to the idea that stress - and sometimes “trying too hard” — may actually play a role in up to 30% of all infertility problems.”

“What we do know now is that when stress-reduction techniques are employed, something happens in some women that allows them to get pregnant when they couldn’t get pregnant before,” says Allen Morgan, MD, director of Shore Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Lakewood, N.J.

Stress has an adverse effect on the body that actually seems to set off a chain reaction of sorts. It affects the heart rate and respiratory rate, and the blood and oxygen produced by these two systems are vital for overall health in every cell of the body. Blood that is freshly filtered through the lungs, and oxygen, both work to bring nutrients and antioxidants to the cells, and to flush away toxins, waste, and other such unnecessary elements. When the body is under stress, these toxins are less likely to be moved out of the system as easily.

It’s also strongly believed that hormones like cortisol or epinephrine - which rise and often remain high during times of chronic stress - play a key role in the relationship between stress and fertility levels. Proteins that help a woman with ovulation and that prepare the uterine lining for a fertilized egg are often compromised by both cortisol and epinephrine.

Additionally, when the body is under stress, that precious oxygen and nutrient-rich blood gets diverted from areas such as the reproductive system to the large muscle groups, such as the legs. This prepares the body for that “fight or flight” reaction it often has to stressful or frightening situations.

Stress may also affect a woman’s ability to respond to fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization. Because the proteins and hormones of the body are out of balance, her body is not optimized to respond as it should for such a procedure.

Stress can also wreak havoc on one’s sex life as well. Many couples report that they have decreased sexual activity when trying to conceive simply because they are always so stressed and anxious. So just when there should be more sexual activity in one’s life, stress is robbing the couple of just that!

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