Are you trying to conceive or plan to start a family soon? If you have been talking to friends and family or researching the internet the rate of succeeding naturally can be daunting.
Yes, research has shown that the number of couples unable to conceive naturally has drastically increased. While it may not be easy to conclusively state all the reasons why some couples conceive more quickly than others recent studies show a link between stress and infertility.
Despite the prevalence of infertility, the majority of infertile women do not share their stories with family or friends, thus increasing their psychological vulnerability. The inability to reproduce naturally can cause feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. These negative feelings may lead to varying degrees of depression, anxiety, distress, and a poor quality of life.
Women with infertility report elevated levels of anxiety and depression, so it is clear that infertility causes stress. What is less clear, however, is whether or not stress causes infertility.
Several recent studies published show links between stress and lowered chances of pregnancy. For example, one study found that women whose saliva had high levels of alpha-amylase, a stress marker enzyme, took 29% longer to get pregnant compared to those who had less.
Our body’s are smart, says Dormar, a longtime fertility expert. It recognises that periods of stress aren’t good times to have a baby. And while you and your partner are stressed you are also less likely to have sex often enough. Alcohol and smoking may also be something you turn to which in turn will hamper your chances of conception.
Another infertility expert Sarah Berga of Wake Forest Medical Centre, N.C. states that the stress hormone cortisol is known to disrupt signalling between the brain and ovaries, which can trip up ovulation.
Therefore, managing stress becomes an integral aspect. Embarking on a fertility retreat to de-stress can be a great start to your fertility journey.
A fertility enhancement retreat focuses on healing the body at all levels: physical, physiological and psychological. There is a specific period of time before conceiving, where nutrition and lifestyle interventions have a huge impact on improving infertility. Alya Barmer – Food Heaven Podcast.
Eating a healthy diet is the best choice you and your partner can make as soon as you decide to start trying for a baby. Here’s how: eat a variety of foods, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, essential oils, and plenty of water, while reducing consumption of unhealthy fats, simple sugar and refined salt.
Yoga, Pranayama, and meditation are therapies incorporated into the fertility holistic retreats to rebalance the body. A study published in 2012 states “Yoga for fertility improves both female and male infertility by minimizing stress, which consecutively balances the hormones of the body with improvement in mental health; thereby increasing a couple’s ability to conceive.”
De-cluttering and healing the mind is integral to overall and fertility health. When you have a healthy mind and positive outlook, you are creating space to be open and receive a new life.