Elections Today
- Pennsylvania
Recent Projections
| State | Candidate | Delegates |
|---|---|---|
 Donald Trump | ||
Pennsylvania |  Joe Biden |
Does Stress Decrease Your Chances of Getting Pregnant?
Research is split but many experts say for some stress could mean less
Feb. 25, 2011— -- In January, Kristen Hale of Shawnee, Kan., underwent her first round of intrauterine insemination (IUI), where her husband Bill's sperm was artificially placed within her body closer to the egg.
"The whole time you're laying there you're thinking, am I going to have to do this again, and how much are we spending?" Hale, 28, said. "We hoped it would be our first and only time."
It won't be.
Kristen had learned months before that she has polycystic ovarian syndrome, and that her husband's sperm-count was low during their natural attempts. They were told IUI could significantly increase their chance of getting pregnant. But the first attempt didn't work for the Hales, so they're going in for another visit next month.
"We have babies on the mind 24-7," Hale said. "It's all we talk about, think about. We're stressed because we're thinking about not being stressed."
Like many women, Kristen says she believes the emotional pressure she feels is one of the major reasons why she could not get pregnant on her first IUI try.
"Most of the stress is the two-week wait [after insemination]," said Hale. "You're constantly wondering if every feeling is a symptom of pregnancy. It's like your mind playing tricks on you."
It's a thought that crosses the minds of many women who are struggling to conceive. Does a woman's stress level contribute to her chances of conceiving?
The research, along with many experts, is divided. A review of European studies released Thursday found that women who are stressed have a near-equal chance of conceiving with fertility treatments as less-stressed women. Women have long believed that stress could interfere with hormone levels and affect their chances of pregnancy.
And it could be true for some women who naturally try to conceive, said Dr. James Grifo, director of NYU Fertility Center and professor of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center.
Stress can stop ovulation, he said. And the constant worry of infertility could also impair a couple's physical and emotional capacity to have sex.
But many are not convinced that stress promotes infertility for couples who are already undergoing fertility treatments.
Related Stories
ABC News Live