What many have long suspected, has been scientifically confirmed -- women's high stress reduces their probability of conception.
Scientists found that women who reported feeling more stressed during tAnnals of Epidemiology.
heir ovulatory window were approximately 40-percent less likely to conceive during that month than other less stressful months. Similarly, women who generally reported feeling more stressed than other women, were about 45-percent less likely to conceive. The results of the study recently published in the journal
In the study, 400 women 40-years-old and younger who were sexually active recorded their daily stress levels measured on a scale from one to four (low to high). The diaries also contained information regarding menstruation, intercourse, contraception, alcohol, caffeine and smoking. Urine samples also were collected throughout the study, and women were followed until they became pregnant or until the study ended, for an average of eight menstrual cycles.
Researchers calculated mean stress levels during each phase of the menstrual cycle, with day 14 as the estimated time of ovulation. They found the negative effect of stress on fertility was only observed during the ovulatory window, and was true after adjustments for other factors like age, body mass index, alcohol use and frequency of intercourse.
"These findings add more evidence to a very limited body of research investigating whether perceived stress can affect fertility," Taylor said. "The results imply that women who wish to conceive may increase their chances by taking active steps towards stress reduction such as exercising, enrolling in a stress management program or talking to a health professional."
The study also found that women who did conceive experienced an increase in stress at the end of the month in which they became pregnant. Taylor hypothesizes this could be the result of two factors: women became stressed after taking a home pregnancy test and learning they were pregnant, and/or most likely the increased stress was the result of changes in hormone levels caused by pregnancy itself.
"Some individuals are skeptical that emotional and psychological attributes may be instrumental in affecting fertility," Taylor said. "I hope the results of this study serve a wake-up call for both physicians and the general public that psychological health and well-being is just as important as other more commonly accepted risk factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or obesity when trying to conceive."
Scientists found that women who reported feeling more stressed during tAnnals of Epidemiology.
heir ovulatory window were approximately 40-percent less likely to conceive during that month than other less stressful months. Similarly, women who generally reported feeling more stressed than other women, were about 45-percent less likely to conceive. The results of the study recently published in the journal
In the study, 400 women 40-years-old and younger who were sexually active recorded their daily stress levels measured on a scale from one to four (low to high). The diaries also contained information regarding menstruation, intercourse, contraception, alcohol, caffeine and smoking. Urine samples also were collected throughout the study, and women were followed until they became pregnant or until the study ended, for an average of eight menstrual cycles.
Researchers calculated mean stress levels during each phase of the menstrual cycle, with day 14 as the estimated time of ovulation. They found the negative effect of stress on fertility was only observed during the ovulatory window, and was true after adjustments for other factors like age, body mass index, alcohol use and frequency of intercourse.
"These findings add more evidence to a very limited body of research investigating whether perceived stress can affect fertility," Taylor said. "The results imply that women who wish to conceive may increase their chances by taking active steps towards stress reduction such as exercising, enrolling in a stress management program or talking to a health professional."
The study also found that women who did conceive experienced an increase in stress at the end of the month in which they became pregnant. Taylor hypothesizes this could be the result of two factors: women became stressed after taking a home pregnancy test and learning they were pregnant, and/or most likely the increased stress was the result of changes in hormone levels caused by pregnancy itself.
"Some individuals are skeptical that emotional and psychological attributes may be instrumental in affecting fertility," Taylor said. "I hope the results of this study serve a wake-up call for both physicians and the general public that psychological health and well-being is just as important as other more commonly accepted risk factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or obesity when trying to conceive."
When researching or starting IVF treatment for the first time, many patients are unclear of how the process works. In the simplest terms, it can be broken down into five main steps. In most cases, an IVF cycle takes between four and six weeks to complete, though the timeline varies from person to person.
ReplyDelete1. Initial blood work, cycle tracking and fertility analysis is done. To begin IVF, your doctor or fertility specialist will evaluate your hormone levels and menstrual cycle to determine what medications and plan of action may be needed.
2. Begin fertility drug injections to help stimulate ovaries. After determining how your body will react to specific medications, your doctor will prescribe fertility medications that help the follicles in your ovaries produce eggs.
3. Undergo minor surgery to retrieve eggs. Following a round of injections, your doctor will determine the best date to retrieve eggs from the follicles of your ovaries. Sperm will also be collected from a partner or donor.
4. Fertility clinic specialists begin the fertilization process. After egg retrieval, a fertility lab will combine the eggs and sperm for insemination. Fertilized eggs will become embryos.
5. Embryos are transferred to the uterus. Embryos that have developed from the fertilization process will be placed in the uterus, normally 3 to 5 days after retrieval, so that they can embed. If this process is successful, pregnancy will occur and IVF is considered a success.
But unfortunately there are so many risks it might not work. And the reasons for this might be very different. Stress is known to be one of them. That's why it's usually advised to get distracted from the treatment steps - films, books, evenings out, holidays - whatever what can make your emotional state a bit relaxed.
When multiple egg follicles are mature and anywhere from 18-20 mm in size, the doctor can decide to plan the egg retrieval process. Once that is planned, one final injection of medication is given to trigger the last stage in oocyte, or egg, maturation. Often referred to as a ‘trigger shot,’ human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is typically a one-time IVF shot that is vital to the process and encourages the last stage of maturation for the eggs. It also loosens the eggs from the follicle walls. hCG brand names include Ovidrel, Novarel, and Pregnyl. Timing is everything with the hCG shot, which often times must be administered within a one-hour window. The eggs must be retrieved within 36 hours of the shot.
DeleteMy pregnancy- addicted friend (Not kidding, she really is!) talked recently about how now that her youngest is getting to be a toddler, she has baby fever. This girl.... someone can breathe on her wrong and she'll get pregnant. She said no more babies for her which I don't believe- she'll have more. She's talked before about being a surrogate. I'd never choose her- she smoked while pregnant with all her children! I'm only saying this because it put surrogacy in my mind- and it broke me at first. So did the thought of adoption. Sure, it's for some- it just tears me apart to think of someone else carrying my child. To not get to experience the bond of a little life growing inside me. Also that with my and my husband's families- if I didn't carry it, it's not our kid. I know that's awful but, that time it felt just like that for me. And here the lady saying she has baby fever..OMG, it's so hard to come back in thoughts to those times..So stressful!!
ReplyDeleteSuch nice posts above!! Hope my is gonna be useful too.
ReplyDeleteOnce the reality starts to sink in, surrogacy is a logical option. I would advise women who worry that health conditions may affect their pregnancy to consult with their dr about the possibility of surrogacy.By far the most difficult path to a surrogacy clinic is through infertility. Couples may ttc for years, experience multiple miscarriages, or even pay thousands of dollars for IVF treatments without success on this journey. Conditions like: PCOS. Primary ovarian insufficiency. Blocked fallopian tubes. Uterine fibroids. Advanced maternal age etc. Seemingly a hundred other things can all lead to infertility. And of course, there’s always the chance that doctors cannot figure out why a couple is infertile. Meaning you're into the case of unexplained infertility. Couples facing infertility have a lot of difficult choices to make. But the aim's the same - The woman desperately wants to experience the joy of pregnancy. If no – then have sb else to carry the baby for her. Surrogacy allows all those dreams come true. The point is to choose the highly respectable, reputable place to be treated at. Which is never easy though. Surrogacy laws vary from country to country. and they can change quickly!! If you're considering the USA for undergoing surrogacy, first and foremost, the surrogate must reside in a state where commercial surrogacy isn’t prohibited. If it is against a state’s law, the court can determine the contract void and participants may even face criminal charges!! Working with a reputable agency is the only way to mitigate these risks. Also having the contracts well explained protects both the intended parents’ and the surrogate’s rights. While a surrogate has rights, the right to keep the child is not one of them in the most of the countries where surrogacy is legal. Once legal parenthood is established, the surrogate has no legal rights to the child and she cannot claim to be the legal mother. In the same vein, the contract protects the surrogate from any kind of legal or medical responsibility for the child. A reputable clinic will always do the comprehensive screening. It includes a full mental health evaluation, clinical interview, and records review. A surrogate should be well educated on the physical and medical implications of surrogacy to make the best decision for her. Medical consent is a major provision within a surrogacy contract. It means that both the intended parents and surrogate must agree to testing for medical conditions and communicable diseases. The surrogate's goal is the same as the IP's – To help them build a family.
Loads of great tips are there on the boards, but personally I have been always cought up with stress during our treatments. Though it's clear one shouldn't. I mean those were some accidents provoking more stress. For example, my DH ended up in the hospital for a week right after my first ivf transfer. So instead of relaxing at home, I was sitting in uncomfortable hospital chairs and eating crap cafeteria food. Thought for sure the cycle would be a bust but I ended up getting a chemical pregnancy. All you can do is try to find something that helps you. This might be meditation, yoga, acupuncture, reading, movies and hope for the best. I believe one can't fully get rid of stress but there still are some ways to release it.
ReplyDeleteThe last paragraph as for the bad habits is also important. Reducing them boosts the chances of a successful treatment
Yep! Some people are skeptical that emotional and psychological attributes may be instrumental in affecting fertility. But researchers calculated mean stress levels during each phase of the menstrual cycle, with day 14 as the estimated time of ovulation. They found the negative effect of stress on fertility was only observed during the ovulatory window. It also was true after adjustments for other factors like age, body mass index, alcohol use and frequency of intercourse. So women’s high stress does reduce their probability of conception. And there's nothing to do about this fact.
ReplyDeleteI have to say this. If you're finding infertility treatment tough going, you're not alone. It's normal to find such treatments physically and emotionally draining.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, there are a few techniques to try to offset the side effects of your treatments and help you to cope. Here's the fertility expert's suggestions on the matter. (I've come across once & thought it will be helpful to share)~
'Taking pills such as cabergoline and metformin alongside meals can help to prevent stomach upsets. It may also help to take pills at the same time every day if you have daily pills, or on the same day each week if you have weekly pills. Unwanted side effects will also often improve as your body adjusts to the medicine.
When you first start taking dopamine-agonists, such as bromocriptine or cabergoline, they can cause your blood pressure to drop and can make you drowsy. It can be safer to take them at bedtime when you'll be lying down anyway.
If bromocriptine is making you feel sick, placing the tablets directly in your vagina can sometimes help. Do talk to your doctor about this first, though. Placing your tablets in your vagina allows the drug to get into your bloodstream without having to go through your liver first. Side effects such as nausea and diarrhoea often begin in your liver. Your doctor may also be able to prescribe patches as an alternative form of taking the medication.
If you're having injections, hold an ice-bag next to your skin first, and then warm the injected area afterwards. This can help to prevent pain and bruising. You could also ask your doctor to rotate the site of injections, to help reduce bruising.
Even milder medications, such as clomifene, can cause breast tenderness, insomnia, irritability or mood swings. Any of these can be hard to live with, or make you hard to live with! But it may be reassuring to know that they're completely normal and don't last beyond the treatment.
Ovarian swelling is a common side effect of the drugs used for ovulation stimulation during in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). You can look after yourself at home as long as the symptoms are mild. Symptoms may include bloating and discomfort in your belly and nausea. Painkillers prescribed by your doctor, such as paracetamol or codeine, are safe to take and should help to relieve pain. But avoid taking anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, as they can affect your kidneys.
You should also drink water to keep your fluid levels up. Just drink enough so that you don't feel thirsty. Although you may think more fluid is the last thing you need when you're bloated, it will help the rest of your body to keep hydrated.
Whatever your symptoms, you don't have to suffer in silence. If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious or depressed, seek out some support. It may help to talk though your worries with a friend or someone in your family.
Talk to your doctor, too. She may be able to adjust your dosage or switch you to another drug. She may also refer you to a fertility counsellor or support group. You can discuss the difficulty you’re having with fertility drugs in our community.
Occasionally, the side effects of fertility drugs can be serious. Your doctor will give you information about the warning signs to look out for. You should also be given an emergency number. Call for help at once if you notice:
Vision problems, including blurred eyesight, or seeing spots, while taking clomifene citrate.
Allergic reactions to your drugs such as difficulty breathing, tightness in your chest, or swelling of your lips, mouth or tongue.
The symptoms of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)'.
Hope this is useful. All the best to all.
There are so many factors feeding into that stress, too, from hormones to hopes and fears. Fertility treatment is stressful without adding unstable hormones to the mix.
ReplyDeleteIt's like the difference between standing in the sun for hours on a hot day, versus standing in the sun for hours underneath a gigantic magnifying glass. Hormones from the fertility drugs can be like the magnifying glass. They tend to make everything feel much more intense.
For me hormones caused really dreadful mood swings which were hard to overcome quite often. And this was not just in my head. Hormones do change our lives and not always for better. Just keeping this in mind can go a long way to making you feel less insane. So one should get someone to share things with. A close friend or relative, or partner just to be sure you can tell him/her all your worries to keep sane. This way, if you snap at them for holding the salt shaker in that absolutely annoying way, they'll be a bit more understanding.
Fertility treatment cycles are probably not the best time to schedule any stressful or emotionally trying meetings if you can help it. Any situation where you need to rein in your tears or anger is best left until after your cycle.
Ivf is very complicated from emotional side. One minute, you're full of hope. You say, "This cycle will be the one that works! This will be my miracle month!" Then, the next minute, you may see only doom and gloom. "What if this doesn't work? What if nothing ever works? What if I live the rest of my life lonely and depressed, a shivering mass of jelly relegated to the back corner of my bedroom closet, forever?" Hold on a minute there. Take a deep breath. And another. It's totally normal to fluctuate between feeling excited and feeling scared. Remind yourself (Especially when you're in the doom and gloom phase)that this is just one cycle. Even if this is your third or fourth IVF cycle. It's still only one cycle!!
Stress is known to be a faulse friend for a woman trying to conceive. And it's not surprising. They say thoughts are materialistic. So if we are ovewhelmed with how things with ivf/whatever will go we get stressed. (As we usually think of all possible negatives.) To make it short, I fully agree with the facts shared. Unfortunately there's no special secret on how to get rid of stress at once.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first thing we were told about when seeking med help after months of unsuccessful trying. But I'm not sure talking about stress really helps. I mean when I heard ''come on, try to relax. It will happen.'' - It made me even more overstressed. Because I wanted to ask immediately: ''When? Tell me, when??'' This must be the same among many infertile women.
ReplyDelete