A new study conducted by researchers at Emory University shows that stress is a major obstacle to pregnancy. The good news is that therapy can have a positive impact on a woman's chances of becoming pregnant.
'Stress really can be a cause of infertility, in men and in women, and it can be managed,' announced lead researcher Professor Sarah Berga at a fertility conference on Tuesday. 'But by managing it you improve your fertility.'
Berga indicated that a combination of small stresses can make it very difficult for women to ovulate and become pregnant. The condition, known as amenorrhea, is usually associated with a lack of proper nutrition and too much exercise.
'The collection of small stresses is worse for your fertility ... than one big stress,' she added.
The study indicated that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) was helpful in treating women who had amenorrhea for more than six months. The therapy helped reduce the levels of the hormone cortisol which increases when stress levels are high.
Half the women in the study were given therapy which included coaching on nutrition, exercise and ways to reduce stress while the other half were given no therapy at all.
'A staggering 80 percent of the women who received CBT started to ovulate again, as opposed to only 25 percent of those randomized to observations,' said Berga. She also noted that their levels of cortisol had also dropped. Two of the women who underwent CBT even became pregnant over the course of the study.
The study conducted was a small one but Berga indicated she was planning a larger group to confirm the results. In addition, she was pleased because CBT did not involve medications with harmful side effects.
Amenorrhea is also a very common condition. Between five and 10 percent of women suffer from it at any given time. This new study offers them hope if they want to reduce stress and become pregnant.
