The Effects of Stress and Emotions on Fertility
Severe stress such as the effects from severe psychological disorders or famine, family and personal tragedies, etc. can cause women to stop ovulating or producing eggs. This results in no menstrual periods and decrease fertility. Also, these same factors can affect the ability of couples to have intercourse and obviously this can also markedly reduce chances for pregnancy.
Mild stress for example disruption at work, family, finances, generalized anxiety, etc. may decrease fertility. But these factors are difficult to measure and precise statistics are lacking.
In my opinion, improvement of emotions, stress and psychological status via treatment such as psychological counseling (Jan Rakoff,LCSW,MSW) as well as acupuncture, mindful meditation, message therapy and other mind body alternative modalities may help improve your chances for successfully achieving pregnancy. I believe when the body is centered and calm that better neurologic and hormonal status helps couples progress through treatments. We are able to have better communication and we are better able to provide appropriate treatments in the most efficient manner possible.
We frequently work with the alternative medicine department at Scripps Clinic Medical Group under the direction of Mimi Guarneri, M.D. and also with Marc Skylar and Gerald Williams at the Reproductive Wellness & Acupuncture Center in San Diego.
Individual and couples counseling also could be a valuable adjunct with many excellent therapists in the area including my wife, Mrs. Jan Rakoff at San Diego Psychotherapy. An additional excellent academic research resource can be found via the published works of Alice Domar, Ph.D. head of Domar Center for Mind/Body Health, Boston IVF Harvard Medical School. References to her work are also published by Merck & Company
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