The Stress-Fertility Connection
There is no doubt that infertility causes stress, but does stress cause infertility? A lot of factors can contribute to fertility issues, but stress is particularly common in women who are trying to get pregnant.
No matter where you are on your fertility journey, managing stress is always a good idea for both your physical and mental health.
HOW STRESS NEGATIVELY IMPACTS FERTILITY
Stress impacts your reproductive hormones and can increase the amount of time it takes to get pregnant. By definition, stress is any disruption of homeostasis or even just a perceived threat to that stability.
All stress, big or small, puts your body into a fight or flight state and hijacks your nervous system. A hyper-stimulated nervous system sends blood away from the uterus, inhibits ovulation, and can prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. This is not what you want when you’re trying to make a baby.
So how much stress is too much? And at what point does it start to disrupt your menstrual cycle and chance of conceiving?
A little bit of stress here and there is nothing to worry about. The problem is when your body is constantly flooded with cortisol, the primary stress hormone, which can cause period problems and disrupt ovulation.
Whenever your body perceives stress, the hypothalamus gland in your brain sends a signal to your pituitary gland indicating that you’re in trouble and need help. The pituitary gland then sends its own signal to the adrenal glands to release the stress hormone cortisol. It’s like one big game of telephone. Your body rallies the troops to fight the stressor, but it doesn’t stop there.
The hypothalamus and pituitary glands are also responsible for regulating reproductive hormone signals. In an ideal situation, the hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH then signals the pituitary gland to release follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones are what cause the testicles to make testosterone and ovaries to make estrogen and progesterone. FSH and LH also stimulate egg growth in women and sperm growth in men.
But when you’re a stressed out Sally with high cortisol, GnRH, FSH, and LH levels drop, throwing off your menstrual cycle and ovulation. This is what causes fertility problems.
Whether you followed all of that science or not, stress doesn’t feel good. It’s important to learn how to get your body into a balanced state and do what you can to take care of yourself.
HOW TO DECREASE STRESS AND INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF CONCEIVING
One of the best ways to reduce stress and rebalance the systems that stress affects is to get acupuncture. Acupuncture harmonizes and disperses the flow of Qi, which can become stagnant with frequent emotional disturbances. It also releases endorphins and serotonin, which is nicknamed the happy hormone for a reason. Acupuncture isn’t the only happy hormone maker though!
Other ways to reduce stress in your life include:
Spending time in nature
Meditating for 15 minutes a day
Finding a fun way to get your body moving
Prioritizing your to-do list and eliminating the things that don’t really matter
Setting healthy boundaries from a place of love
Delegating what and when you can
Avoiding watching and reading the news
Getting massages and adding on cupping for the extra benefits
Going to bed early enough to get a restful night’s sleep
Self care doesn’t just mean bubble baths and pedicures. The most important part is that you have fun. Little things like writing a letter to a friend, listening to your favorite music, doing a random act of kindness, or even just reading a new book with a cup of tea can raise your vibration.
Investing in your well being isn’t one size fits all.
When it comes to reducing stress, finding ways to learn from other people and get support when you need it is absolutely priceless.
We’re here for you and want to invite you to our upcoming free Overcoming Infertility webinar where you’ll learn more about the stress-fertility connection and uncover the other missing links that might be the cause for unexplained infertility and failed IVF treatments.