Relax to get pregnant

Here’s a low tech, all natural answer to infertility: relax. An article in Fertility and Sterility reveals new research which proves that less stressed out women have a higher chance of conceiving.

The Oxford Conception Study followed 274 couples, women aged 18 to 40. The women were given fertility monitoring devices in order to anticipate and take advantage of their peak fertility in order to achieve conception. The women were tracked for six months (or whenever they got pregnant). On the sixth day of the cycle, saliva samples were collected from the women to test the levels of alpha amylase and cortisol. These two chemicals are produced by the body during times of stress.

Once all the factors were considered to level out the research (age, sexual frequency, alcohol use, etc), the researchers found that women with the highest levels of the stress marker alpha amylase were 12% less likely to conceive. Alpha amylase is part of the “fight or flight” response we experience with a loud noise or stressful experience. On average, couples had a 30% chance of conceiving generally. Apparently, cortisol is a non issue.

The doctors look forward to conducting a larger and longer study to confirm their findings. But in the meantime this could be good news for couples who have struggled with their seeming inability to have a child.

Relax. Take the pressure off. Remember when sex was just a good time? A return to that mindset could be one, very easy, answer to the problem.

Source: Fertility and Sterility, Rita Rubin/USA Today