Medically understanding ‘stress’ means the sympathetic nervous system response to a triggering event. During such triggers the body’s natural mechanisms release adrenaline hormones into the bloodstream, resulting in the “fight or flight” reaction. This physiological response makes us ready to respond to real or perceived danger and be more alert and motivated.
Heart racing, breath quickening, the face getting flushed, or hands getting sweaty are all part of the body’s normal and healthy response to stress. Though stress helps save us from danger, it has a negative effect on our bodies if it is a constant presence in our lives.
Types of stress experienced
Acute stress (short-term) and Chronic stress (long-term)
Acute stress is a “short-term” form of stress that is directly related to immediate or recent challenges or pressures. It is beneficial in small doses since it helps you stay motivated and improve your performance on tasks or in challenging situations.
Long-term acute stress leads to adverse health outcomes, including emotional distress, physical discomfort, or worse.
Symptoms of acute stress can include
- Emotional distress, with increased anger, irritability, or anxiety.
- Physical symptoms include headaches, stomach upset, rapid heartbeat, and muscle tension.
- Changes in eating patterns, like increased or decreased eating, sleeping difficulties, or social withdrawal.
- One can get relief from acute stress with stress management techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, or exercise, and seeking support from friends, family, or professionals if needed.
Symptoms of Chronic stress can include
Chronic stress means it is there in the body for an extended period due to ongoing pressures and challenges that seem endless. Chronic stress lingers and affects the person’s life quality, often leading to significant health problems, especially in terms of female fertility.
Stress and infertility in females
Infertility can have far-reaching effects, such as destabilising a person’s relationship with family and friends, financial issues, and negative impact on the couple’s sexual relationship. These cause stress in women.
- Research shows that women undergo stress due to infertility similar to what they would if they had cancer, heart disease and HIV. In some societies, women are blamed and are subjected to stigma, which further adds to their stress.
- Stress directly may not be related to infertility, but under stress, women’s lifestyle changes, which further leads to infertility.
- If prolonged bouts of stress are not handled properly, it will lead to depression, which makes women twice as susceptible to infertility.
- Anxiety prolongs the time needed to achieve pregnancy.
- Even if women are undergoing IVF, they should be stress-free since it can adversely affect the IVF success rate.
- Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) also leads to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
- Excess or under-eating, gaining weight, excess alcohol consumption, taking up smoking, etc, as part of stress handling, negatively impact fertility and chances of pregnancy.
Healthy ways for women to cope with stress so that it doesn’t impact their fertility
Know your stress-dealing patterns: Observe how you are dealing with stress and if you are falling into any unhealthy habits. Talking to others going through infertility will help you share your concerns. Get a complete understanding of your infertility since confusion also leads to uncertainty. Also, clarify your doubts with experts at the centre. Communicate: Never hide your feelings or suppress them. Express them to your partner. This can provide great emotional support. Also, share it with trustworthy people in your close family and friends. Isolation is not sound. If you don’t want to share the minute details also, that’s fine. Just share your overall stress points like finances, social pressure, etc.
Learn and practise relaxation techniques regularly: Various relaxation techniques are available for deep rest. These techniques help you achieve progressive muscle relaxation. Practices like deep breathing, meditation, and imagery can help you transition to a state of relaxation response. For those women who are undergoing ART then, regular practice of relaxation techniques can significantly benefit from achieving success.
Take care of mind and body: Mind-body health is essential for infertility programs to work. Many women need help understanding the importance of mind-body connection. Especially in matters of fertility, a calm, relaxed and happy mental state is necessary even after you get pregnant. Here are some suggestions for coping with the stress of infertility that may help you on your journey.
Focus on the task at hand: Infertility treatment is a long-term process. Some women see desired results in the first attempt, whereas some need multiple tries. So, at any point in time, stay focused on the present. What should I do now? What medication and treatment should I do now? Too much thinking about the future will increase your stress, which will adversely affect your chances of getting pregnant with ART.
Prioritise self-care: Take up healthy eating, exercise regularly, cut down on caffeine and alcohol and quit smoking. These healthy self-care habits will improve your state of well-being. Your overall health will improve. If you are having trouble changing any of the habits, then seek professional help.
Keep yourself busy: Try to do your normal regular activities as much as possible. Keeping your mind busy and your schedule full will help you reduce waste and negative thoughts. You can pick up long-term hobbies.
Some aspects of infertility are out of your hands, but dealing with stress can be done. You can control how you cope with the stress of infertility. Choose those thoughts that will reinforce positivity. We at ZIVA fertility clinics offer counselling services for women under stress due to infertility. Please talk to us and let us help you. For more information, please visit our website https://zivafertility.com/ or contact us at +91-9100002737 or +91-9347406900
