While some couples have no problems getting pregnant, others may have to keep trying their luck. Reproducing, when you think about it, shouldn’t be a problem, for we are, after all, meant to do so. So why do hundreds of couples find it difficult to conceive naturally?
Let’s take a closer look at a modern issue today, which is stress. Stress, in this modern world, seems to be part and parcel of this fast-paced life. There is always so much to do and most people are always in a hurry to get somewhere or get something done. Inner peace seems to be a luxury today. Does this have an effect on a person’s ability to conceive?
It certainly does …and on top of that, if you’re desperate for a baby but keep failing at getting pregnant, it only adds on to your stress levels.
Some typically stressed-out couples take to timing their actions in bed to coincide with the women’s most fertile period whereby they get frustrated when they still don’t succeed. The reason is, stress affects the functioning of the hypothalamus — the gland in the brain that regulates the hormones that tell your ovaries to release eggs, causing you to ovulate later in your cycle or not at all.
It’s not the same for everyone
Everyone has their own way to cope with stress. On another note, the human body itself has its own way to handle stress. Stress can be divided into two main categories, which are:
- Sudden stress
- Constant stress
It’s important to differentiate between these two kinds of stress and understand how they can affect your body, and ultimately, your ability to successfully conceive. If your stress level is high but fairly consistent, your body will likely acclimate to it and you’ll probably still ovulate each cycle. It’s sudden stress —such as an accident or a death in the family — that can throw your cycle off and interfere with ovulation.
Having said that, it depends on an individual’s body and how they can process stressful events that take place in their lives. Some women find that even a trip out of town can delay ovulation, where else there are women who have managed to get pregnant despite going through rough or traumatic moments in life.
It’s also important to remember that stress isn’t only a reaction to something negative. For example, have you ever felt stress following promotion and the sudden need to take on new responsibilities? It’s a great feeling, yet it’s stressful all the same. This kind of ‘positive’ stress can also affect your cycle, causing you to ovulate later or not at all. Brides often report strange cycles because they’re happily stressed out about their weddings.
Know your body
If you’re trying to get pregnant and you’re under stress, your cervical fluid may give you a warning that something’s amiss. Rather than noticing increasing cervical fluid wetness as you approach ovulation, you might find patches of wetness interspersed with dry days. It’s as if your body is trying to ovulate, but the stress continues to delay it.
However, while stress may impact when you ovulate, there is still a chance of pregnancy, as long as you know how to identify when ovulation is about to occur by charting your cervical fluid.
You’ll be able to confirm when you have indeed ovulated by tracking your basal body temperature. You should see a sustained rise about a day after ovulation, lasting about 12 to 16 days. The delayed ovulation simply lengthens your entire cycle. It doesn’t shorten the luteal phase — typically lasting the same number of days after ovulation to the start of your next menstrual period.
How stress affects a man’s health
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, in around 40% of infertile couples and their respective male partners, stress is the sole cause or contributing cause of infertility.
Past research has associated stress with a number of health problems, including heart disease, asthma, obesity, and depression. One study even suggests that stress can reduce sperm and semen quality, which could have implications for male fertility. One of the main causes of male infertility is sperm abnormalities, including low sperm production or misshapen or immobile sperm. Medical conditions – such as undescended testicles or ejaculation problems – can lead to sperm abnormalities, as well as health and lifestyle factors.
Manage your stress now before it’s too late
Many couples also fail to understand that when it comes to stress, it’s not just about trying to manage it so they can conceive. Rather, managing stress should be a long-term endeavour for it’s an integral part of living a healthy and fulfilling life as parents in the future!
