If you have been trying for six months are more to conceive, then you have probably lost count of the number of times your friends and family offered similar advice such as “You’re trying too hard,” “Take it easy,” or “Don’t stress about it too much.”
In today’s modern society, it is easy for people to become stressed. Sometimes, it even seems as if though being stressed is the “in” thing; if you are not stressed, it could even mean there is something wrong with you. However, stress is not a good thing for our bodies and it can have a real impact on one’s fertility.
The big question now is: can stress have an effect on your fertility?
Our bodies are equipped to prevent conception from occurring especially during times of extreme stress. Believe it or not, stress has the ability to affect the function of the hypothalamus – the gland in our brain that regulates our appetite, emotions, and the hormones that signal the ovaries to release eggs. If you are stressed out, chances are you ovulate later in your cycle or in some cases, not at all.
Another thing to consider is the presence of adrenaline – the hormone released by our bodies during times of stress – that signals to our body that certain conditions are not ideal for conception. Adrenaline also inhibits us from utilizing progesterone – a hormone essential for fertility. It also causes the pituitary gland to release increased levels of prolactin, also causing infertility to occur.
The good news is: you can reduce the effect of stress on your fertility. Here are some tips on how to make that happen:
REDUCE STRESS IN YOUR LIFE
Although this is easier said than done, it CAN be done. This step is important on many levels. It does not only help your health and infertility but also the quality of life.
CHANGE YOUR REACTION TOWARDS STRESS
When faced with a stressful situation, the only thing you can have control of is your attitude towards it. Evaluate on how you react to stressful people or situations. If you create negative situations of what could happen in the future or if you think about it all night long, then you definitely need to do something about it. Once you have control of how you react, it will definitely have a huge impact on what happens inside your body when another stressful situation comes along. This certainly takes practice and your whole attention.
If you want more expert opinions on how to handle stress when trying to conceive, set up an appointment with Dr. Fay Weisberg today.
