Stress could double chance of infertility after year of trying, study finds

Scientists urge women having difficulty getting pregnant to consider stress-managing techniques, such as yoga and meditation. Photograph: David Cheskin/PA


Too much stress can lead to infertility in women, according to a study published on Monday.

High levels of pre-conception stress more than double the chances of a woman failing to get pregnant after 12 months of trying, scientists found. A year of not conceiving despite regular unprotected intercourse is the clinical definition of infertility.

The new findings are published in the latest online edition of the journal Human Reproduction.

Scientists measured levels of alpha-amylase, an enzyme in saliva that provides a biological indicator of stress. Women with high levels of the biomarker were 29% less likely to get pregnant each month than those with low levels, the researchers found.

They were also more than twice as likely to be declared infertile.
Stress could double chance of infertility after year of trying, study finds [shared from Weave for Windows Phone]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/24/stress-infertility-women-us-study