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The Facts to Relax
How to Cope With the Stress of Infertility
By Gwen Morrison
North feels that by de-stressing she was able to remind herself of the "bigger picture." "What helped me the most in not being stressed was dealing head on with the issue of infertility," she says. "For me, that was done by taking deep breaths and grounding myself and through semi-regular meditation."
"There is no evidence that relaxation per se leads to conception," says Alice D. Domar, Ph.D., director at the Mind/Body Center for Women's Health at Boston IVF and assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School. "The relationship between stress and infertility is complex. There is minimal evidence that anxiety contributes significantly to infertility, but increasing evidence that depression may. Several studies have shown that infertile women who learn a variety of stress-reducing techniques, including relaxation techniques, have higher pregnancy rates than women who do not learn such techniques."
While it's noted that stress does not cause infertility, few experts would argue that infertility can cause considerable stress. "Infertile women report higher levels of stress and anxiety than fertile women, and there is some indication that infertile women are more likely to become depressed," says Domar. "This is not surprising since the far-reaching effects of infertility can interfere with work, family, money and sex. Finding ways to reduce stress, tension and anxiety can make you feel better."
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