Stress v. Fertility

By Dr. Dalite Sancic, DACM, L.Ac

Does High Stress Really Impact Fertility? 

The fertility journey can be stressful (as you may know already), especially if you’re including IVF or IUI in your efforts. It’s a lot of doctor’s appointments, a lot of tests, a lot of  hurry-up-and-wait. 

It's understandable that it’s a bit annoying for people to tell you to “just relax” and that  will help you get pregnant.  

While “just relaxing” is not that simple, there’s research that shows that women with high levels of stress took 29% longer to conceive.

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3984126/] 

And from a biological standpoint, the body knows that periods of intense stress are not ideal times to carry a child. 

How Can Acupuncture Help? 

Acupuncture has been shown to reduce stress and promote relaxation by stimulating the  release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15135942/] 

It helps shift the body from a sympathetic nervous system state (“fight or flight”) into  parasympathetic (“rest and digest”).  

By helping you manage stress more effectively, acupuncture can support hormone balance. Over time, as the body relaxes and feels safe for longer periods in 'rest and digest' parasympathetic mode and contributes to improved fertility. 

Of course, stress is only one factor in the complex math of fertility. But it makes sense  to try to reduce stress if it can give a boost to your fertility efforts. Think about it this way:

The bodies of people who live in a constant state of “fight or flight” have a hard time healing or functioning optimally no matter their goal.  

Whether we’re trying to improve chronic pain, reduce digestive symptoms, or get pregnant, each of these is harder when a person never feels relaxed, never slows down, and constantly feels stressed or anxious.  

The goal is to create optimal conditions. (“Optimal” within reason, of course. Perfection is not the goal.). And learning to manage stress is one piece of the puzzle.  

Of course, acupuncture isn’t the only thing that can help reduce stress. There are also things like yoga, walking, journaling, prayer, creative outlets (drawing, painting, etc.), breathing exercises, or meditation for our patients. Whatever activities help you release mental and/or muscle tension and feel at peace – lean  into those!  

And as you know from previous emails, acupuncture can help improve fertility in a number of ways, not just stress reduction: 

- Balancing hormones 

- Improving blood flow to the reproductive organs 

- Regulating the menstrual cycle 

- Reducing inflammation 

We would love to help you on your fertility journey. East Asian Medicine has so much wisdom to share regarding getting and remaining pregnant, as well as postpartum  care. 

 Exciting New Offer: The Radiant Path Fertility Program

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the Radiant Path Fertility Program, a comprehensive 6-month journey designed to support your fertility goals through emotional, hormonal, nutritional, and personalized care. This program includes two telehealth visits per month, offering continuous guidance and support along the way.

If you or someone you know is interested in taking part in this transformative program, please reach out to me directly at info@moonbrookmedicine.com.

Feel free to share this offer with anyone who might benefit!