Stress & infertility treatment success unrelated: Study

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDFeb 28 2011

A new study has shown that despite popular belief, stress and tension do not decrease the success of a woman’s fertility treatment.

British researchers from Cardiff University looked at 14 studies that included a total of 3,583 women who had undergone fertility treatment and been assessed for anxiety and stress before they began their therapy. They compared women who became pregnant and those who did not and noted that there was no association between emotional distress and the likelihood of becoming pregnant. The results were published in the online edition of British Medical Journal on Feb. 24.

Jacky Boivin, a professor in the School of Psychology at Cardiff University in Wales said, “These findings should reassure women that emotional distress caused by fertility problems or other life events co-occurring with treatment will not compromise their chance of becoming pregnant.”

Health experts say that about 15 percent of couples are infertile. Many women as well as experts till date believe that emotional distress can reduce their chances of becoming pregnant naturally or having success with fertility treatments. Professor Boivin said, “Women having fertility treatment who do not get pregnant early on often blame themselves for getting too stressed out and the longer they remain not pregnant the more stressed they get. This just reinforces the myth.” However, she felt that it was important women did not ignore the stress that they were feeling, “Fertility treatments are stressful in themselves. Women should not ignore feeling stressed - because apart from anything it could mean that they do not persist with treatment,” she added.

Clare Lewis-Jones, chief executive of the charity Infertility Network UK, said the report was encouraging, but agreed it was important not to ignore stress. She said, “Whilst stress may not impact on the success of treatment, the need for patients to receive support and understanding should not be ignored…Clinics should ensure that they make every effort to care for their patients not only in terms of the best possible treatment but also to support their emotional and practical needs.”