Infertility, The Body and Mind Connection
Research shows that alleviating depression and other forms of stress and anxiety in women who struggle to conceive makes it easier to become pregnant.
How Does Stress and Anxiety Impact Fertility?
Woman who struggle with infertility face daily stress – unwanted periods, unsolicited advice from not-so-helpful friends and family, painful emotions such as jealousy and rage, harmful self talk, invasive treatments, negative test results, to name only a few. In fact, research shows that women undergoing treatment for infertility, face stress levels comparable to those of individuals who suffer from a terminal illness. All of this stress sends the body into “fight” or “flight” mode. The result is a very clear physiological response that impairs reproduction. Some woman, it’s true, get pregnant while dealing with stress and anxiety. Other women are more “reproductively sensitive” to continuous exposure to heightened levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Stress causes the body to release the hormone prolactin into the bloodstream. Heightened levels of prolactin in the bloodstream interfere with reproductive processes such as ovulation and implantation.
What Does Depression Have to do with Infertility?
Research pinpoints the close relationship between depression and infertility. Women, for example, with a history of depression were found to be twice as likely as women without a history of depression to report difficulties getting pregnant. Another study found that women with symptoms of depression who had been through at least one failed IVF cycle experienced a pregnancy rate of 13 percent versus women without symptoms of depression who experienced a pregnancy rate of 29 percent.
Dr. Alice Domar of the Mind/Body Center for Woman’s Health at Boston IVF, maintains that “if you are depressed even before you start trying to conceive – even mildly depressed – your fertility may be compromised, and you might not conceive right away.” Domar’s research found that approximately a third of all woman who suffer from infertility are depressed versus about 18 percent among fertile women.
Are You Depressed?
The surprising thing about depression is that many woman with depression do not realize they are depressed. I know I didn’t. I was surprised to eventually learn that, before trying to become pregnant, I was severely depressed. Depression can not only get in the way of your ability to conceive, it can seriously compromise your health. If you answer yes to having any of the following symptoms for over 2 weeks, you might be depressed (5 or less responses in the affirmative suggests minor depression and 5 or more suggests major depression).
•Loss of interest in usual activities
•Depression that doesn’t lift
•Agitation or anxiety
•Strained interpersonal relationships with your partner, friends, family or colleagues
•Difficulty thinking of anything other than infertility
•High levels of anxiety
•Difficulty accomplishing tasks
•Difficulty concentrating
•Change in sleep patterns
•Change in appetite or weight
•Increased use of alcohol or drugs
•Thoughts of death or suicide
•Social isolation
•Persistent feelings of pessimism, guilt or worthlessness
•Persistent feelings of bitterness or anger
The Importance of the Relaxation Response
Many woman struggling with infertility have undoubtedly heard the not-so-helpful advice to “just relax and you will get pregnant.” (I know I did on several occasions!) Not knowing how to “just relax,” I did whatever I thought might help me relax (e.g. take a nap, get a pedicure, go on vacation) but ultimately ended up feeling more stress and anxiety when these activities failed to relax me. In this program, I emphasize “the relaxation response.” The relaxation response is a very real physiological response that triggers the body to go into a calm, resting state. Strategies that help you reach this state are very different from what I think of as “band-aid relaxation strategies” in that they help you achieve an ongoing and sustainable level of peace and calm. In fact, the tools that I teach are more than just tools to help you cope with infertility, they are tools that you will use your entire life.
Mind/body Support Works
In one study 42 percent of 132 woman with infertility became pregnant within six months of completing a mind/body support program. In another study, 55 percent of mind/body participants conceived versus only 20 percent in the control group. Click here to sign up for the next body and mind support group.
Works Cited
For a list of works cited please click here.
Recommended Reading
•Conquering Infertility by Alice D. Domar, Ph.D.
•The Whole Person Fertility Program by Niravi B. Payne, M.S.
•Why Zebra’s Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
•Waiting for Daisy by Peggy Orenstein
About Amy
I am a Martha Beck Life Coach and a member of the International Coaching Federation. I struggled to conceive for nearly six years and ultimately gave birth to twins through a second attempt at IVF. I am grateful for the technology that helped me conceive but also realize that, despite the incredible advancements in treating the physical side of infertility, very little progress has been made in treating the emotional side. I am excited to share the tools I have learned during my journey. In my fertility coaching, I draw from the works of Dr. Martha Beck, Brooke Castillo, Bryon Katie, Dr. Alice Domar and Dr. Niravi Payne to name a few.
