Almost
everyone agrees that there is a relationship between stress and
infertility.
However, it is rather difficult to assess whether stress
causes infertility or infertility causes stress! The
other side of the picture is also bewildering to some
extent. There are people who cannot concentrate when
they are in a stressful situation
while others perform
best when they are stressed up. Moreover, spontaneity
provides joy in sex, not clinical performance (as is
customary in infertility cases) which invariably
releases the air out of the sexy balloon. As a matter of
fact, the issue itself – sex versus fertility – love in
time of cholera – love versus lovemaking – is so complex
that even fertility gurus often get stressed up, trying
to arrive at the right decision.
Looking back, we may wonder how our
forefathers could have five, six, seven or eight
children out of a single marriage. Having three sisters
and two brothers was part of a common family scene. Was
it possible because the earlier generation lived a less
stressful life or financial stress was not as acute as
it is today? Who knows!
How
is stress and infertility related?
Nevertheless, stress certainly
affects fertility as it does to other bodily functions.
Since stress creates indigestion problem, ventricular
problem, irregular bowel syndrome
,
certain types of acne, etc., there is no reason as to
why it will not affect ovulation or become responsible
for poor sperm count.
However, to narrow down the
corridor of reasons that give a clue to what role stress
plays in infertility, let us delve a little deeper into
the various stress factors that involve couples desirous
of having a child.
To begin with, tests for
infertility are stressful enough for a joyful and
fruitful sex. Some of the following factors may
emotionally affect couples that have been diagnosed as
infertile and are probably in the course of undergoing
treatment.
- Anguish
associated with the diagnosis
- Doubts
about outcome of infertility
treatment
- Sense
of losing control over
everything
- Loss
of self-confidence
- Financial
worries
- Marital
juggernaut
- Sexual
pressure
- Family
pressure
When a person is diagnosed with a
terminal disease, he/she encounters a sense of peril, a
peremptory pronouncement of leaving the near and dear
ones for a journey towards the unknown. But if the same
person is diagnosed with infertility, he/she is filled
with anguish. “Why me?” comes the inevitable question to
which neither the doctor nor the spouse has a ready
response. Besides, going through diagnostic tests and
then trying to conceive can be exasperatingly
stressful.
Uncertainty about the selection of
a particular line of treatment
(though often prompted by
the expert) can also give rise to stress. Whether that
will provide the desired result or not may take the
night’s sleep out from both the spouses. What happens
when it fails is yet another stressful
conclusion.
When a “successful” couple that
have worked hard and achieved all that was achievable in
life is suddenly confronted with a bizarre problem which
is simple enough for others but utterly difficult for
them – producing a child, can make them lose control
over everything.
Stress
and infertility can definitely beat the
self-confidence and self esteem of the couple when there
is a dearth of fertility. The stress of infertility can
create a sense of void and often a sense of guilt among
them that leads to complete loss of
self-confidence.
Then there are the financial
worries involving expensive treatment procedures that
can not be reimbursed through insurance. This gives rise
to stress too for which there is hardly any solution
left.
Infertility diagnosis and related
problems frequently affect marriage relationships.
Spouse with the infertility factor becomes stressfully
apprehensive, fearing that the ‘normal’ partner might
leave him/her in search of one that can help deliver a
child.
What
kinds of stress causes infertility?
Among
some of the stress creating factors, one that dominates
most is the demand to have intercourse at pre-determined
time and date (cycle measurement). This may provoke
irritation and severe inconvenience when one has to work
late or is out on a business trip. Moreover, sex can
hardly be compared to a pre-determined business lunch
where the host and the guest congregate only to discuss
urgent business at hand.
Sometimes family pressure can cause
severe stress on couples. This is displayed most on
family reunions or when parents visit their successful
but infertile sons and daughters. “Why there is no
grandson for me, Bob?” is a typical question that is
difficult to answer for Robert or Elisa.
Nevertheless,
it is possible to come out of the cycle of stress and
infertility, if only
the holistic method of treatment is adopted. Unlike the
conventional approach, the holistic method first finds
out what the real cause of the problem is and then
suggests Chinese medicines
,
herbs, lifestyle and diet changes, exercise and
acupuncture to achieve the desired results. And these
results with the holistic approach are much better than
the conventional methods.
