Stress and Infertility

When you were growing up, did you mother ever tell you not to stress out about those school projects too much, or else you'll catch a cold? ...I know mine did, and it turns out she was right.  Stress has a known negative effect on overall well being.  Unfortunately, this means stress also negatively affects reproductive health, and can inhibit fertility.  Bad news for all the TTC people who can't spend a waking moment not worrying about their next ovulation or pregnancy test result!

Feeling "stress" triggers the release of "stress hormones", like adrenaline and epinephrine, which boost your heart rate and suppress reproductive, digestive, and growth systems. While essential for survival on a short term basis, long term chronic stress, which many infertile couples feel full force, interrupts ovulation and sperm production, and decreases the desire to reproduce in both men an women.  If your "baby dancing" has become a bit of a chore, stress might even be the culprit!

What's the solution to stress?  One of my favorite stress relievers is the tried and true long hot baths in scented bath salts, or maybe lighting a few soothing candles while drinking a cup of tea, but the most popular method right now is yoga.  There are many yoga routines out there, even many home yoga for fertility plans, but I'm going to talk about my favorite, Bend Breathe and Conceive with Dr. Anna Davis.

Dr. Davis is a fantastic teacher. She holds a doctorate in Biophysics and Physiology and has been practicing yoga for more than 25 years.  Her voice is soothing and the poses she guides you through are easy enough for beginners and interesting enough for seasoned yoga pros.

 This fertility yoga DVD consists of a series of poses, hand positions, and meditative breathing techniques designed to relieve stress - while simultaneously toning muscle groups that play vital roles in conception and pregnancy.

Bend, Breathe, and Conceive is a fertility yoga routine specifically designed for trying to conceive women, but I've heard of many couples happily and successfully going through the DVD together.



To view a clip from the DVD, visit Bend, Breathe and Conceive's website, http://www.bendbreatheandconceive.com/bbc_trailer/yoga-trailer-n1.html

You can buy Bend, Breathe, and Conceive from Fairhaven Health, where it has a perfect 5 star review!!