Infertility

"What came first, the chicken or the egg? Applying this philosophical question to fertility, we have - What came first, stress and depression, or fertility difficulties? The vast majority of couples participating in fertility treatment experience significantly high levels of stress and depression. The stress comes from a myriad of sources ranging from financial (cost of treatment), lost time at work (treatment requirements), and relationship strain (gender differences). There may be substantial loans taken out for fertility treatments or significant reduction in savings or retirement funds. The stress may come from the terrifying thought that pregnancy may be impossible. Nature, nurture, and cultural conditioning all leave a number of women feeling incomplete without bearing children. Many times fertility issues tap into all areas of wellness; social, cultural, psychological, biological, family, friends, recreation, etc…). There is a need to be mindful the balance of elements that contribute to wellness and optimal functioning.

All of the stressors involved in treatment have the potential to contribute to infertility conditions. Research has shown that the hormone, cortisol (a powerful stress hormone), appears to be involved in early miscarriages. With science and modern technology we are able to better know what bio-chemical state the body is in when miscarriages occur. The research revealed a significant difference between high and normal cortisol levels in the pregnant women. While both high cortisol level women and normal cortisol level women experienced miscarriages, 90% of women with high cortisol miscarried in the first three weeks of pregnancy, while 33% of the women with normal cortisol levels miscarried within the first three weeks. It is possible that hormones and other biochemical’s being released under conditions of chronic stress interfere with successful conception. Why would that be?

We know from a large number of studies over decades, that the physiological processes within the body respond to obvious and subtle changes in the environment. One theory is that high levels of cortisol (stress) send a message to the body that the environment is not suitable for a newborn, as the body interprets cortisol as an indicator of danger and prepares for “fight-or-flight”. Physiological processes that typically would support pregnancy appear to be altered to prevent successful pregnancy during prolonged periods of “fight-or-flight”. This does not discount that anatomical abnormalities or other genetic/biochemical contributors are involved in fertility frustrations.

The Mind-Body approach to infertility is to reduce or eliminate the negative contributions of depression and stress (fight-or-flight) to fertility. Fertility treatment is complicated and involves many healthcare disciplines. It is important to work with an experienced physician to rule out contributing biological factors (low egg production, poor egg quality, blocked tubes, low sperm count, etc…) and apply medical techniques to improve the chances of pregnancy. Adjunctive treatment with Mind-Body therapies focuses on the obvious and subtle stressors that can lead to anxiety and depression. Learning skills to reduce depression alone has been shown to increase fertility by a significant percentage. Do you have a number?