Fertility is brief and fragile, shifting in a heartbeat. When you’re ready to have a baby be aware of how stress can play a part in infertility or delay pregnancy.

Most couples spent years together controlling fertility to prevent pregnancy. Learning to manage stress means you have one thing less to worry about when you’re planning a baby.

The Science of Infertility Stress

The neurochemical barrage that is our ‘Fight’ or ‘Flight’ response can be triggered by a threat to self-esteem or dignity. So, next time someone cuts in front of you in traffic, or is rude notice how your body reacts. It is amazing to imagine that worry also releases emergency hormones in your body. The response is exactly the same for actual danger, and for what is feared.  The body is alarmed, and energy is automatically directed towards critical action areas. Towards arms and legs to run or defend,  and crucially, away from non-defence areas like the gut and reproductive system. No time for digesting or making babies when the alarm alert is on.

Once a chronic imbalance of the autonomic nervous system is created, it perpetuates itself with even the slightest trigger irritant. A very vicious cycle!

Why Does it Cause Infertility?

One of the most common causes of delayed ovulation is both physiological and psychological stress. (Weschler).
This is because stress dramatically affects the hypothalamus. The part of the brain responsible for so much of the reproductive system and the pituitary gland –  releasing follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone.

 Mental Stress and Infertility

Psychological stress causes physical problems. All through the baby-making chain of ovulation, delayed fertilisation of the egg, Fallopian tube flexibility, and the readiness lining of the uterine wall to accept an embryo, stress interferes with healthy pregnancy. It is implicated in infertility and worsened by it.

Men’s Health

Chronic stress rapidly leads to lowered sperm count, a crucial part of the fertility equation.With a 72-dy production time sperm production is easily improved.  Learn the difference between normal stress and a toxic overload to minimize infertility. Mindfulness offers an easy, effective ways to defuse stress.

What to Do

Taking charge of stress and stressors, being well buffered against normal stress by way of a healthy, happy lifestyle allows you prepare to succeed.  So, the good news is that infertility problems can be improved, supported and changed … in a heartbeat.

Please feel free to call me to discover how I can help you manage stress.