Does stress play a big role in infertility...

[ohmyitschelsi]

I'm sick of everyone tell me to "relax" and "it will happen"...but its like no, it probably won't and when, they don't know what there talking about..argh.

Anyways does stress pay a big role in infertility, because having infertility is completely stressing me out obviously, my mother in law says I'm not getting pregnant because I'm stressed, I wanted to slap her, but is she right?

If so, how do I keep myself from not getting stressed, I feel stressed 90% of the day, so am I just never going to have kids because I am stressed?

 

[no_regrets_91]

slightly. I have read that it can effect some things but from what I have read it mostly effects when the egg is released but chances are stress is not what has been keeping you from getting pregnant for over a year. it might give you a longer cycle every once in a while but it won't cause infertility. and with others stress doesn't effect them at all.

I have found that accupuncture is so so relaxing. I first started it to help with my cycles which it didnt but when I stopped doing accupuncture i noticed i was alot more stressed.
also you could try meditation that helps as well.

 

[Armywife84]

I've found stress makes AF late..but that's about it. It's not making you infertile.

It's a never ending battle with stress, because infertility causes stress.

-I watch funny shows or a comedy movie to laugh, which helps release stress.
-Exercise, go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I hear yoga really helps.
-A massage.
-Keeping a journal or blog to air out your worries and negative thoughts.
-I used to go tanning and that helped, but now that I'm 27 and worried about wrinkles, i don't go anymore.

 

[phoenixrose]

I've looked into that a lot as well, and the verdict seems to be that it's not statistically significant enough. It could play a role but it's unlikely. Mayne it only plays. Role in the sense that if the stress causes you to ovulate late, then it could mess with timing of BD (well not for us super smart ladies anyway). Other then that I don't think it maters much. For sanity purposes though you should find a way to decompress. I was the same way 6 months ago, completely stressed and loosing my mind. Finally I had enough and sought professional help. I now see an acupuncturist, do guided meditation/therapy and get massages (luckily it's covered by my insurance.) it was the best decision I ever made. I still get sad and stressed when I get my BFNs but overall I handle it so much better then I used to and I feel like my old self again!

 

[Feisty Fidget]

Oooo I hate the whole "stop stressing about it and it will happen" As the lovely ladies on here have stated the only thing that stress affects is ovulation, this is why it makes your period 'late' technically your period isn't late it is just not when you expected because of your later ovulation.

I have a family member that routinely tells me that I think about ttc too much and this is part of the problem. I have pointed out the fact I am ovulating and so stress isn't a factor but she seems to think she knows better It has actually got to the point where I don't talk about how I am feeling anymore as I was sick of the criticism.

Next time your MIL decides to give her uneducated opinion on your medical problems simply smile and state the facts; stress affects ovulation and that isn't an issue for you

 

[Amber3]

I read somewhere that stress plays a big role but I am not convinced. Also I just went to a course about adoption the leader there said that 30% of the couples who have attended their course get pregnant afterwards. It seems that stress does play a role but I also think that it is cheap to say that stress is the reason why someone is not getting pregnant. After all most people don´t start the ttc process stressing about ttc and also I know that most of us have real medical issues like PCOS or endo
Best wishes,
Amber

 

[readyformore]

My first baby was conceived during a very stressful time.

I had been ttc for 19 months with unexplained infertility. I was 24 at the time. Both husband and I were normal and healthy.

I did clomid and IUI 4 times to get pregnant.
The cycle that worked, I was crying, angry, bitter, depressed, and completely self-absorbed about my infertility. It was all I could think about.
In a span of a few days, my grandfater died and his funeral was on my 25th birthday; and I had my fourth and final IUI, (we had already taken the classes for IVF).
I still got pregnant.

I know that not everyone will agree with me, but I don't think stress plays a big part in it. I wasn't stressed for the first several months of ttc my first (or my fourth, for that matter). If stress plays such a big role, why didn't I get pregnant before the year mark when I wasn't stressed out about it?

Women get pregnant that are in abusive relationships, after rape, during famine and war; I can't think of anything more stressful than that. I just don't think that we can have that much control over our bodies.

I do think that for some women that struggle with anxiety disorders, it might make things a bit more difficult, but eventually, they would get pregnant too.

I also think that with infertility, we try to find a reason for why it's happening. If you're thinking stress might be your reason, it certaintly won't hurt your overall well being and general health to find a way to relax.

Good luck.

 

[readyformore]

Also I just went to a course about adoption the leader there said that 30% of the couples who have attended their course get pregnant afterwards.
Amber

According to RESOLVE (national infertility association), the pregnancy rate is exactly the same. There is no difference in pregnancy rate between those that choose to adopt and those that don't.
Not sure which source is the most accurate about that , but my feeling would go toward resolve.

 

[phoenixrose]

Readyformore: Well said! Well said!

 

[Armywife84]

Hell, I'm screwed then. I've developed anxiety because of infertility!

 

[Indian Maa]

I'm sick of everyone tell me to "relax" and "it will happen"...but its like no, it probably won't and when, they don't know what there talking about..argh.

Anyways does stress pay a big role in infertility, because having infertility is completely stressing me out obviously, my mother in law says I'm not getting pregnant because I'm stressed, I wanted to slap her, but is she right?

If so, how do I keep myself from not getting stressed, I feel stressed 90% of the day, so am I just never going to have kids because I am stressed?

Dear i would say YES!
I was ttc for 3 years...Both of us were so stressed and we could not enjoy sex...
At last did an Iui..., got pregnant.... Miscarried and then thought of taking a break... Dint care about timely intercourse stuff.., but had our intimate sessions with full of love... Before even getting my first AF after miscarriage i was pregnant again... I read in another thread that you are ttc with all fine body since 2 years.... Just try relaxing... Dont care about clomid ovulation etc for 2 months....share, care and have fun ... I am sure it will just happen... Good luck
(this is many of my other indian friends case too i never belived then when they said it... But now i do )

 

[lian_83]

This thread is so apt for my situation right now. I have actually done 5 cycles with the acupuncturist and she keeps on reminding me not to stress out and just relax. It's making me more furious because how could I relax if I am not getting pregnant.

I've been pining to me a mom for a very, very long time. Never used protection with all my relationships before but didn't even have an accident. Got married and was NTNP for 2 years and still nothing. Now, TTC using donor sperm for 7 cycles and still NOTHING. I don't know what else to do.

 

[NavyWife84]

Hell, I'm screwed then. I've developed anxiety because of infertility!

Haha...I don't mean to laugh, but it is either laugh or cry. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for over 10 years now. LTTTC has pretty much put me where I was each time I have hit rock bottom. I am also super stressed all the time and work at least 10 hours a day. If stress, depression, and anxiety cause infertility, then I'm screwed too! Good thing I don't believe in all of that!

 

[clayzor]

Stress will reduce your sex hormones, so yes.

Stress raises cortisol, which may reduce your sexual drive.

 

[Gingersnaps]

Stress will reduce your sex hormones, so yes.

Stress raises cortisol, which may reduce your sexual drive.

Good point chronic stress causes adrenal fatigue - which can effect fertility.

 

[Damita]

stressed or not DH & I still like bunnies, good stress relief

 

[blueeyedgirl1]

stressed or not DH & I still like bunnies, good stress relief

Colour me jealous!

 

[fisher640]

I don't know. I sure wasn't stressed about TTC the first year I quit taking BCPs-- or the year we were NTNP -- or when we went on our 2 week cruise during my fertile period --

Now 3 years into it and starting with IUIs I'm completely obsessed and anxious about what if it never happens and I never get to be a mom? What if what if what if.

But I always try to remind myself the same thing someone commented earlier -- do you think rape victims are in a good mental spot, that trauma certainly lasts far more than the two week wait... people get pregnant at times of war, when food is scarce, when their lives are in danger... Surely me worrying about whether I get my grad school assignment done next week or if we BD'd enough times this month isn't on the same caliber as people who worry about 'I might not be able to afford my house this month', 'I might die today', or 'he might come back and rape me again', that's much worse.....

 

[lian_83]

Hi fisher, i can totally understand your situation. I'm also diagnosed with Unexplained Infertility. I swear, if i hear that phrase "dont stress over it, it will happen, i'm going crazy."

 

[StephieB]

I have just been to see my fertility specialist after TTC for 22 months, and I have slightly elevated prolactin levels which can cause a major problem when trying to conceive as it plays havoc with ovulation (and it is possible to still get positive OPKs, as with me!) and if you do conceive, makes implantation difficult. The two main causes of high prolactin - growths on the pituitary gland and stress. As I find it almost impossible to not stress about EVERYTHING in life i'm feeling pretty much screwed too! (levels are only slightly elevated and the usual symptoms with pituitary growths are not present, so my likely cause is stress)

Growths on the pituitary gland cause adrenocortocotropic hormone (ACTH) and adrenalin (epinephrine) to be released into our bodies, the exact same thing that suffering from stress does. These stress hormones pretty much take up all of our bodies resources and time and messes with every over hormone going, which can result in problems TTC.

I spent part of my degree studying the neurological affects of stress, and yet still can't practise what I preach! But yep, sadly, stress (in extreme cases) can have an affect of fertility.