Stress may diminish a woman's fertility

Mumbai: Stress may increase a woman's risk of infertility, new research suggests.Analysts keenly researched on levels of an enzyme known as ’alpha-amylase’ linked with stress in the saliva of women who were trying to get pregnant. They also tracked the women's ability to conceive over a 12-month period.

"Alpha-amylase is an enzyme that is secreted into the mouth that helps the body start to digest carbohydrates," said Lynch, Director of reproductive epidemiology at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. "It is also linked to the fight-or-flight part of the stress system."

"Women with higher levels of the stress biomarker had a two-fold increased risk of infertility," added Courtney Lynch, Analyst.

For the study, Lynch and her colleagues collected data from about 500 couples that were recruited from targeted counties in Texas and Michigan. ‘During the observation period, it was observed that women took saliva samples twice at the start of the study and again after they'd had their first menstrual period during the study time frame. For most, that was about a month into the study,’ stated Lynch. As alpha-amylase can be affected by alcohol, tobacco and caffeine consumption, the researchers requested the women to take their saliva samples right after waking up in the morning. The researchers followed the couples for up to 12 months, collecting information on the possibility of their conception.

Among the 400 couples that completed the study, 87 per cent of the women became pregnant. After adjusting for age, race, income and the use of alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes, the researchers found that the women with the highest alpha-amylase levels had a 29 per cent lower probability of pregnancy compared to the women who had the lowest levels of the enzyme.

The study results were published in the March 24 issue of the journal Human Reproduction also reported that there could be a possible association between a stress indicator and how long it takes a woman to become pregnant.

"Part of the challenge is that we don't have validated [indicators] of stress hormones or validated questionnaires that measure stress, so the next step is that we really need to start validating some of these tools," said Dr Suleena Kansal Kalra , a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist who was not involved with the new research. Analysts also stated ‘The women in the group with higher levels of the stress-related enzyme had sex about more often as compared to the ones in the low-level group, so frequency of intercourse did not play a role.’

Kalra said some women stop ovulating during stressful times, while others conceive in high-stress environments. Women struggling with infertility who have stressful lifestyles should not blame themselves, Lynch said. "I don't want women to see this in the news and say, 'It's my fault I'm not pregnant,'" she said. "We know stress is not the major indicator of whether or not you're going to get pregnant."

Kalra further also stated, "Age is the No. 1 factor linked to the inability to conceive. Mother Nature is cruel and unfair. All our success rates are better in women under 35. That does not mean every woman in her late 30s is going to be infertile, but age is the greatest predictor of success."

She even further highlighted, ‘Cigarette smoking is absolutely associated with a decrease in the ability to become pregnant and obesity is beginning to be looked at as well.’

"Not being able to start your family when you're ready to do so, can create a lot of stress for couples, particularly women," said Kalra.

Web MD also suggested that Yoga, meditation, nutrition counseling and a psychologist-led could improve fertility of women.