Stress. There’s that word again. But what does it actually mean and how does it relate to fertility? The dictionary definition of bad stress is: “A state of mental or emotional strain resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.” Doesn’t sound like much fun, does it?

But did you know that there are good types of stress as well? Known as eustress, this is any positive physical, mental or biochemical stress that results in an improvement in health, motivation or physical performance. Like an ice bath, for example. But more on that later.

Deciding to start a family is a major life changing decision, one that’s usually an exciting time for any couple. Its when the months, sometimes years, begin to pass without a pregnancy that it starts to become diSTRESSFUL.

The latest stats on fertility is that by 2020, it’s likely that 1 in 3 couples will struggle to conceive. 1 in 3! That’s a huge statistic and while I don’t dispute it or fail to acknowledge that in some instances it can be very complicated, I firmly believe that there is a lot we can be doing to get ourselves into a better state to build a tiny human.

Back in the day, when our ancestors were getting chased by wild animals, that ‘fight or flight’ response kicked in and literally helped them survive! They were:

  1. Increased blood flow to our extremities (so we can run faster)
  2. Increased heart rate and blood pressure
  3. Increased blood glucose levels
  4. Increased number of stress hormones being created- cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline

Trouble is, we still have these responses to perceived stress. So, while these changes are sometimes beneficial and necessary we need to start asking what happens when this stress response, or perceived state of stress, becomes chronic.

Nowadays a perceived state of stress can come in many forms. Deadlines at work, family troubles, financial issues, exercising, lack of proper nutrition, poor sleep, coffee, alcohol, party drugs, not getting enough followers on Instagram, and the list goes on. That wild animal is constantly chasing you and those little legs are getting tired.

So, when this perceived state of stress is taking place, it prevents the hormone GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone) from creating other sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone. This can suppress ovulation in women, reduce sperm count in men and lower libido in both men and women. GnRH’s role is to stimulate the release of LH (luteinsing hormone and FSH (follicular stimulating hormone) which then signals the reproductive organs to release the hormones mentioned above. But when other stress hormones are being prioritised, GnRH becomes inhibited and infertility can be the end result. And would you believe that there is actually a term now for stress induced infertility. Its called Stress Induced Reproduction Dysfunction

I always like to use the bucket analogy when talking about stress. Imagine a bucket constantly filling with water, it’s eventually going to get full and start to overflow, right? So what we want to do is start putting things into place to help us pail the water out of our stress bucket and keep it from spilling over.

So, what’s the solution?

Solutions! I love talking about solutions.  Here are my top 5 strategies for emptying out that stress bucket

  1. Eat more food that actually NOURISHES you. I’m talking about things that contain vitamins and minerals to help your body get things done. Some examples include leafy greens, slow cooked casseroles and colourful salads (eat the rainbow- and I’m not talking about skittles).
  2. Expose yourself to some EUSTRESS often. When you put your body in a stressful situation, (extreme cold or heat) there are actual physical changes that take place to help you deal with it if and when it happens again. Cold exposure (like a cold shower or an ice bath) has been shown to improve immune function, boost testosterone and improve sperm count (listen up, lads!)
  3. Practice MINDFULNESS/GRATITUDE. My take on this is that mindfulness or meditation doesn’t always mean you have to sit cross-legged in a dimmed room chanting “om.” If going for a walk in nature or horse riding genuinely relaxes you and helps you become more centred, then find a way to make it part of your routine. I sometimes use the Tony Robbins 15 minute gratitude video on YouTube or when I’m lying in bed before I go to sleep, I’ll do some heart math.
  4. Get 7 hours minimum SLEEP every night. This one doesn’t require too much explanation but can sometimes be easier said than done. If you send yourself to bed at a reasonable hour but find that you can’t switch off, chances are your stress hormones are keeping you awake. Come see us at 5th Element Wellness and we can sort you out. But just following some of these other strategies is a great place to start.
  5. Remove PROCESSED food. I mean if it comes out of some sort of packet, or brightly coloured box, your body will most likely have problems breaking it down and turning it into anything useable. Eating these types of foods absolutely add to your stress load, especially gluten and sugar. Just the actual burden of trying to digest them requires energy and vitamins and minerals you are already lacking. This leaves you more depleted, with that stress bucket slowly starting to fill.

There are many other things I could mention but hopefully I have at least begun to demonstrate the impact of stress from just daily living, and provided you with some useful tools you can start to implement.

We will be diving much deeper at the Conscious Creation Workshop and providing some more specific tools and strategies to help turn this conundrum around! Anyone who actively decides to go on this journey deserves the absolute best shot at success, to experience the bliss that is parenthood.