Did you know April is Stress Awareness Month?

The link between stress levels and it’s affects on an individual’s fertility has been debated for years. It’s no secret that infertility can cause depression and stress (in fact, depression levels in patients with infertility have been compared with patients who have been diagnosed with cancer). But do elevated stress levels actually make it difficult for families to conceive?

The general consensus is no; research shows elevated stress levels do not have an impact on one’s ability to get pregnant.

You hear many stories of women getting pregnant/giving birth while in active war zones, or in refugee camps, or similar stressful events. If elevated stress levels caused infertility, these stories would be few and far between.

If the human reproductive system was so vulnerable to stress, we as a species would have died out years ago.

However, unhealthy behaviors one may exhibit in response to a stressful event could impact their fertility. This can include (but not limited to) an unhealthy diet, smoking, drug and alcohol use, lower sex-drive, refusing to speak to a mental health counselor, etc.

Actively reducing one’s stress levels could have a positive impact on fertility and health in general! Some ideas to try can include:

  1. Exercise
  2. Taking up a new hobby
  3. Talking with a counselor
  4. Meditation
  5. Self-Care

If you have already tried everything to try to start a family and are still struggling with infertility, embryo adoption could be the answer you have been looking for. To learn more about embryo donation and adoption, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.

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