Stress is a normal part of trying to conceive for many women. The specialists at First Fertility understand that there is an important relationship between stress and fertility. While stress alone does not cause infertility, it can impact couples or individuals who are trying to have a baby.
As your fertility partner, we are here to support you on your journey to growing your family, which includes helping you understand how to identify and manage fertility stress.
How Does Stress Affect Fertility?
The relationship between stress and fertility is still something that fertility experts have been studying for years. In the 1940s, for example, medical experts claimed that anxious and ambitious women who were struggling to conceive were experiencing what they called “psychogenic infertility.” However, it has since been disproven that psychological factors alone cause infertility.*
In more recent practices, fertility specialists have found that treating infertility as a psychosomatic experience can have many benefits. Although stress cannot cause infertility, infertility may cause increased stress, depression, or anxiety. Understanding how to manage these psychological factors is an important step to meeting your family-growing goals.
How to Manage Fertility Stress
If inevitable stress affects your fertility journey, how can you identify and manage it? Finding healthy coping strategies to help alleviate stress and ground yourself is an important part of stress management. Some strategies we recommend include:
- Communicate your fertility stress with your partner, friends, family members, counselor, or therapist.
- Learn more about infertility by speaking with our specialists and those who have experienced it.
- Practice relaxation techniques to help your body feel safe and rested.
- Take care of your physical, nutritional, and mental health needs.
- Reduce any sexual stress caused by infertility by focusing on the physical connection with your partner.
Engaging in these practices can help fertility stress become more manageable, allowing you to focus on your family-building goals while still taking care of yourself. You may also benefit from a support group or psychological counseling during this time. Our specialists will be happy to direct you to trusted resources.
Stress and Fertility Treatment
Assisted reproduction and fertility treatments can cause a significant amount of stress for hopeful parents-to-be. Procedures like IVF require an emotional, financial, and physical commitment, whether you are struggling with infertility or are unable to conceive naturally.
While stress can arise during your treatment, it should not become a barrier between you and your dream of having a baby. Along with personalized treatment plans, our fertility specialists strive to create strong relationships with each of our patients. We are here to help you through every stage of your journey, ensuring you have the resources and support you need.
Start Your Fertility Journey at First Fertility
At First Fertility, we understand that stress plays a big role in your fertility journey. From educating you on the effectiveness of infertility treatment to sharing positive coping mechanisms when it comes to managing stress, we are here to support you and help you grow your family.
To start your journey with us, you can schedule your first fertility consultation online or in person at one of our many locations across the United States.
