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Family planning is different for every couple. Some can conceive out of the blue without any prior planning. Some can talk about it, get an idea of what they’d like the future to look like, and within a couple of months, they get their first positive pregnancy test. Some can try to conceive for a year or more before anything happens.
And in every version of this scenario, the people involved can start to feel the stress build. The pressure around trying to start a family can really pile onto you, and it can start to feel like the stress itself is becoming a problem.
It feels like it’s slowing things down, and making you or your partner feel less healthy. And if you’re already feeling stressed, and you experience another negative test, the stress is going to bundle on even more. On top of all of this, you’ve still got a job to do, friends to keep up with, bills to pay, a house to clean and keep tidy, etc., and you’re not sure how you’re going to keep on managing with it all.
All in all, what was supposed to be an enjoyable and meaningful period in your life has become something you’d just rather be over and done with! Because these days, you’re constantly stressed, and you feel like the stress itself is going to be the one thing that means you’ll never get any further with your family planning. So let’s dig into that feeling. Is it true that stress can have an impact on conception and your family’s future? Here’s what you might want to know.
How Do Stress and Fertility Work Together?
Want the quick answer first? We’re not 100% sure! But if you do want more details, here they are! Stress and fertility do seem to interact in many different ways, but the scientific data behind these interactions is a bit ‘scattered’, to say the least. What we do know is that when you’re feeling stressed, you’re far less likely to be in the mood to try and conceive, and that puts the brakes on family planning far better than anything else.
The Physical Effects
So, we know that stress certainly can impact on the way you feel, as well as how well you feel in yourself. But it can also have quite severe physical effects when it becomes something you’re dealing with on an ongoing basis. Chronic stress can lead to all kinds of complications in day to day life, such as not sleeping or not eating properly. Behind the scenes, stress can also cause hormone fluctuations. For example, if you’re waiting on your period to start, feeling stressed out can delay it.
When that all gets put together, it’s safe to say that stress has a physical impact on fertility too. Let’s take sleep as a good example here. Think of sleep as a regulator for your body as a whole. It makes you feel less tired, for sure. But it’s also how your body heals, repairs, and releases essential hormones.
So, if you’re stressed out and that’s preventing you from sleeping properly, your body doesn’t have enough of a chance to keep your cycles regular. And that can affect fertility levels regardless of a person’s gender.
When the Stress Becomes Too Much
No matter what the science does say, however, the fact is that you’re stressed. And when you’re feeling this kind of stress, and you can’t be sure when you’ll be able to deal with it, conception isn’t something you can really wrap your head around. However, if you’re able to get on top of the stress, you might be able to turn things around and help yourself feel more like you’re going to get what you want out of your family planning. It’ll also make hospital trips and chats with doctors a lot easier to face too! And when stress does become something that’s just a little too heavy to handle, there are quite a few things you can do to try and regulate yourself again.
Make sure you and your partner keep talking
Worrying about what’s going through your significant other’s head isn’t ever going to make family planning something to enjoy! If you’re not sure how they’re feeling, clear some time for the two of you to have an honest conversation. You want there to be a clear, open line of dialogue between the two of you at all times, where it feels safe to say what you’re really thinking and feeling.
And trust us, the moment you two start talking about things properly, you’re likely to find you’re more on the same page than you thought!
Don’t be afraid to set some boundaries
It’s actually incredibly stressful for well-meaning friends and family members to check in and ask how things are going. It’s also incredibly frustrating when loved ones offer unsolicited advice too! So don’t be afraid to tell them so, or to say that you’re not willing to talk about anything to do with your own family planning journey. This time is for you and your partner, and it’s not something that’s up for review!
Get some insight
If the stress around family planning comes from constantly feeling like you’re stumbling through the dark, and just hoping you manage to hit a fertile window, it is possible to get some insight into what your body is doing. Indeed, you can book a fertility test at a clinic at any time, and start to understand your cycle, ovulation windows, and hormone levels in much more detail.
Focus on yourself
Targeting the physical symptoms of stress can prevent you feeling any worse, so try to do that now. If you’ve not been eating quite right, make a nice dinner tonight. If you’ve not been sleeping well, hit the hay an hour or so earlier so you can properly wind-down and relax. Stress can impact family planning, but the relationship is quite complex!
Note: This is a collaborative post
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