{"id":39844,"date":"2022-05-02T04:00:01","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T11:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.avawomen.com\/avaworld\/?p=39844"},"modified":"2022-05-02T09:11:17","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T16:11:17","slug":"overcoming-stress-about-getting-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.avawomen.com\/avaworld\/overcoming-stress-about-getting-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Stress about getting pregnant is real. Here’s how to overcome it."},"content":{"rendered":"

Save these strategies for stress reduction and better navigate the rollercoaster of emotions that come with trying to conceive.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Having a baby is supposed to be a fun time \u2014 right? That\u2019s what everyone tells you. You probably even thought at one point in your life that sex definitely lead to pregnancy. A thought that might have scared you a little.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting pregnant, as we now know, is not always such a simple thing. And if it\u2019s taking <\/span>longer than you hoped<\/span><\/a>, the stress can become overwhelming. You might even start obsessing over the trying to conceive (TTC) process: from timing sex juuust right to cancelling plans during your <\/span>two-week wait<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adding to this, if you\u2019ve experienced loss or difficulty in your conception process, you might be\u00a0 feeling even higher levels of stress, sadness, or disappointment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Research on Stress and Fertility<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of fight or flight before, the notion that we either run away from battle or scratch and claw our way to survival. When we\u2019re feeling stressed, our body’s natural response is to turn on its fight or flight response.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This response signals a release of hormones, like cortisol, which can lead to physiological changes that <\/span>negatively impact your reproductive health in the long-term<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>It can also cause an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, anxiety, headaches, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prolonged exposure to <\/span>stress<\/span><\/a> and high cortisol levels may also lead to something known as <\/span>hypothalamic amenorrhea<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>a condition where the menstrual cycle shuts down and <\/span>ovulation<\/span><\/a> stops entirely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re experiencing chronic stress, it could also affect your <\/span>libido<\/span><\/a>, leading <\/span>to a decrease in the frequency (and pleasure) of the sex you have. Thus turning sex into more of a chore than something you actually want to participate in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, even if stress isn\u2019t affecting your chances of conceiving, it may be negatively impacting your life. That matters, too. And the unfortunate, but probably obvious news, is that stress is especially common among people who are having trouble getting pregnant:<\/span><\/p>\n