Does stress affect fertility?
Yes. Our body’s biochemical response to stress has a major effect on the reproductive system. Stress increases our levels of adrenaline, which inhibits our ability to use progesterone, one of the key hormones in reproduction. It increases levels of cortisol, which inhibits implantation of the fertilized egg. It also increases levels of prolactin, which inhibits fertility by decreasing or halting ovulation. Additionally, a hyper-stimulated nervous system sends blood away from the uterus and ovaries to the essential organs, thus lessening the overall function of our reproductive system. In 2001, a study at the University of San Diego, California, examined the success rates of women undergoing IVF. The study concluded the women with higher rates of stress and depression were 93% less likely to become pregnant and achieve a live birth. Another study in 2001 published in Fertility and Sterility concluded that stress increases T-cell production which, in turn, deters implantation in IVF pati
