Stress alone does not cause infertility, but it does interfere when a woman tries to conceive. Through years of thorough observation, doctors have found that women with a history of depression, anxiety, and stress, have an increased chance of being infertile.
This relationship between stress and infertility became more prominent when women undergoing in vitro fertilization were kept under thorough observation.
A study revealed that a woman’s day-to-day level of stress could lower their chances of getting pregnant. It is indicated by Alpha-amylase, an enzyme that determines stress levels. If your saliva contains a high percentage of this enzyme, it can take 29% longer for you to become pregnant.
Infertility specialists also note that stressed women did not engage in sexual activities too frequently. Also, they were more likely to smoke a lot, consume too much caffeine, and drink too much alcohol, to deal with stress. All these factors combined result in increasing chances of infertility.
Stress hormones like cortisol massively derange the network between your brain and your ovaries. This condition can further result in ovulation disorder. Likewise, you will notice that if you are continuously stressed out for a long time, you end up having irregular periods. Irregular menstruation is usually an early sign of infertility.
The studies revolving around stress and infertility are pretty complex; however, there is evidence that your stress levels directly impact your hormone levels, which can affect your menstrual cycle and ovulation in a negative way.
For instance, a study by the Boston University School of Public Health in 2018 discovered that women with high levels of stress experienced lower fertility levels than women with less stress. However, it is not just about the women; if either partner experiences too much stress in their life, it reduces their chances of conception.