Stress and Fertility Treatments

Emotional distress may not affect the outcome of fertility treatments, according to a recent study.

Approximately 10-15 percent of couples in the United States are infertile. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is currently the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology (ART), which has enabled many couples to have their own biological child. Mature eggs are retrieved from the woman, and then fertilized with the male's sperm in a laboratory. The embryos are then implanted in the woman's uterus.

Researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a comprehensive literature search in various databases to evaluate the potential effect of stress on the success rate of fertility treatments. Fourteen studies evaluating 3583 women undergoing fertility treatments were included.

The infertile women in the studies were assessed for anxiety and depression before treatment. The researchers compared the stress and anxiety levels of women who become pregnant to the levels of those who did not, and found no significant link between stress and the outcome of treatment.

The authors concluded that stress may not affect the success rate of fertility treatments. However, additional research is necessary to further evaluate these findings.

For more information about infertlity, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

References
1.Boivin J, Griffiths E, Venetis CA. Emotional distress in infertile women and failure of assisted reproductive technologies: meta-analysis of prospective psychosocial studies. BMJ. 2011 Feb 23;342:d223. View Abstract
2.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com

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