Can Stress Affect Fertility? What the Research Really Says
- Alex Morris
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Stress has a way of creeping in just when you need calm the most. Whether we’re
dealing with workloads, relationship issues, or completing a never ending to do
list, stress is the thing that grinds us down. But it may do more than mess with
your mood, studies suggest it could affect your physical health, including
fertility.
Hearing that stress and fertility might be linked isn’t exactly reassuring. If you weren’t stressed before, you are now. But is this true? And is there a way to combat stress when you’re already dealing with the highs and lows of fertility?
The answer is yes. Here’s how.
Why Stress and Fertility Feel Connected
Let’s start basic: what is stress?
Stress is a physiological response to your environment that triggers the “fight or flight” response. It was once designed for battling sabre tooth tigers, now, it’s more likely to get triggered just before a job interview.
Still, the underlying physiology is the same: your body releases stress hormones, like cortisol,
that cause physiological changes. Think faster heart rate, shallow breathing, high blood
pressure, and headache. Perfect for a life and death situation, less helpful on a trip to the
fertility clinic.
And here’s where it gets tricky: those same stress hormones can interfere with the systems your body uses to conceive. When you're constantly in fight or flight mode, your brain may disrupt communication with your ovaries, throwing off ovulation or even pausing your cycle entirely. It’s your body’s way of saying, “Now’s not a good time.” Helpful in a genuine emergency, but deeply frustrating when you’re trying to get pregnant.
What Stress Actually Does To Your Body
Stress is good. That might sound wrong, however, stress is what gets us to act. It prepares us to deal with a difficult situation.
The problem? Stress is resource intensive. That’s fine in the short term. But if you stay in a
prolonged state of stress, your body starts using up the resources it needs for the future.
Stress can:
Disrupt hormones, including those needed for ovulation
Delay or stop ovulation by interfering with brain ovary signals
Raise blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system
Weaken the immune system, affecting implantation
Reduce sleep quality and lower libido
Increase risk of anxiety and depression, which can affect fertility behaviours
Can Stress Really Make It Harder To Get Pregnant?
Yes. Let’s skip the long explanation and get to the facts.
In one study of 352 women with infertility issues, more than half had signs of depression, and
three quarters showed signs of anxiety. Both of these symptoms occur, in part, due to stress.
Another study confirmed these findings, of 112 women seeking infertility treatment, 40% had a diagnosable mental health condition, e.g., anxiety or depression.
The worst part? As infertility continues, it causes stress, women feel more and more anxious,
depressed, and despondent, creating a negative feedback cycle.
What You Can Do (and What Not To Stress About)
You don’t have to be a zen master to reduce stress, and you definitely don’t need to feel guilty about feeling overwhelmed. But there are small, realistic steps that can help.
Mindfulness, gentle exercise, yoga, therapy, or simply taking time to rest can help take the edge off. Some research suggests that these interventions may improve your chances of conceiving, but even if they don’t, they can help you feel more grounded and in control.
And then there’s the stuff you don’t need to stress about. You don’t have to do everything
perfectly. You don’t have to meditate for 30 minutes every day or give up every cup of coffee.
Reducing stress isn’t about eliminating it, it’s about managing it in a way that works for you.
You’re Not Alone, and There Is Support
Trying to conceive takes its toll, emotionally, mentally, and physically. If you’re feeling
overwhelmed, I’m here to help.
Lunaire offers personalised health coaching for women navigating fertility, stress, and hormonal health.
Book a free 30 minute consultation and explore how Lunaire can support you on your fertility journey. Stress and infertility don’t have to rule your life.
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