Adrenalin link to fertility problems

Thursday August 12th, 2010

Women having trouble getting pregnant could be tested for stress levels, British researchers have said.

New findings link high levels of stress, linked to nerves and edginess, with problems getting pregnant.

The Oxford University researchers say a biological test can now be used to detect these women.

Their findings, from a study of some 274 women, have been reported in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

Researchers found that high stress levels linked to increased adrenalin reduced the chances of pregnancy by about 12 per cent. The findings apply to the instant "fight or flight" stress that causes the release of adrenalin - not to low-level stress.

Researcher Dr Cecilia Pyper said: "This is the first study to find that a biological measure of stress is associated with a woman's chances of becoming pregnant that month.

"We looked at a group of healthy women aged between 18 and 40 who were all planning a pregnancy. We found that those women with high levels of a marker for stress were less likely to succeed in conceiving.

"The findings support the idea that couples should aim to stay as relaxed as they can about trying for a baby. In some people's cases, it might be relevant to look at relaxation techniques, counselling and even approaches like yoga and meditation."

She added: "More work is required to understand the size of the effect of stress on the chances of becoming pregnant and how it compares to the effects of factors like smoking, obesity and alcohol."

Tags: Childbirth and Pregnancy | Mental Health | UK News | Women’s Health & Gynaecology

Printer friendly page