STRESS & INFERTILITY

Your menstrual cycles often reflect your health in general. Stress is defined as a “response to a physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension (such as fear or pain), that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism”. Stress does not directly affect fertility, but it can suppress the hormones responsible for ovulation, which may lead to delayed ovulation and therefore influence fertility.

Some stress is unavoidable in everyday life. But during times of excessive stress, the body senses that conception should not occur and instead prevents it to protect both mother and child.

Symptoms of stress can include sleeplessness, irritability, restlessness or nervousness. Unfortunately, these are the same symptoms that may occur when you are having difficulty getting pregnant.  Fortunately, there are many stress-reduction techniques that can suit everyone, ranging from meditation, yoga, and reading to hiking, and exercise!

By making some simple but impactful lifestyle changes –  including proper diet, adequate sleep, exercise, and stress-reduction – you can boost your fertility naturally and balance your hormones, increasing your chances of conception and healthy pregnancy.