Relax, stress has nothing to do with it

Stress does not impact the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Women undergoing IVF or other types of assisted reproduction therapies (ART) can rest assured that the emotional concerns associated with their infertility won’t affect the success of the treatment.

Infertility affects 15% of the childbearing population and most of these people will consult doctors about their options with ART in hopes of becoming a parent. It has long been believed that women struggling with infertility may be exacerbating their situation with the side effects of worry. This idea is based on anecdotal evidence and decades of women talking amongst themselves. It’s the “just relax and you’ll get pregnant” idea.

Doctors of course don’t embrace this idea. The need evidence.

So researchers tried to find that evidence. They Professor Jacky Boivin from the Cardiff Fertility Studies Research Group investigated infertility treatments and stress.

He looked at fourteen studies with 3,583 infertile women undergoing a cycle of fertility treatment. They were assessed before treatment for stress levels. The researchers then compared the stress with the success level of the IVF. Results showed that stress was irrelevant.

“These findings should reassure women that emotional distress caused by fertility problems or other life events co-occurring with treatment will not compromise their chance of becoming pregnant,” concluded Boivin.

Source: British Medical Journal, MedicalNewsToday