Stress & Fertility

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to stress and fertility. Each card presents a term associated with the lecture and its corresponding definition to aid in review and understanding.

Fertility vs infertility 

Fertility: Ability to get pregnant AND carry to term.
Infertility: No pregnancy after 12 months of trying OR inability to carry to term.

Gonads / HPG axis

Sex glands (ovaries and testes) that produce gametes (eggs and sperm)

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis that regulates reproductive hormones and functions.

• Hypothalamus → releasing hormone

• Pituitary → LH + FSH

• Gonads → sex hormones + gametes

Hypothalamus

A brain region that releases hormones influencing the anterior pituitary and regulates the reproductive functions.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

A hormone that triggers ovulation in females and testosterone production in males; imbalances can lead to reproductive issues.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Women: egg growth, ovum recruitment, supports pregnancy

Men: sperm development in seminiferous tubules

Animal Studies (Stress & Fertility)

Stress increases glucocorticoids → inhibits the HPG axis.
• Stress raises RFRP (a hormone that blocks reproduction).
• Result = lower LH/FSH → reduced sperm production, ovulation issues, or sexual behaviour.
• Prenatal stress = more miscarriages, fewer conceptions, low birth weight.

Prenatal stress

Prenatal stress → fewer conceptions, more miscarriages, low birth weight, altered fetal hormone development → adult reproductive dysfunction.

Stress-related disorders in women

Conditions such as chronic anovulation and hypothalamic amenorrhea linked to stress.

Stress-related disorders in men

Conditions such as decreased sperm count and potency issues which can be exacerbated by stress.

Anxiety Inventory

A psychological measure used to assess levels of anxiety, including stress experienced in relation to fertility.

Emotional stress

Psychological stress that can negatively impact fertility and is often linked to social expectations and pressures.

Cortisol

A hormone released during stress that can affect ovulation and reproductive functions.

Ejaculatory disorders

Disruptions in normal ejaculation potentially linked to stress, impacting male fertility.

Environmental Stressors & Fertility

Workplace Hazards (Ed-Helaly et al., 2010)

Environmental exposures linked with male infertility:

• Solvents & paint materials

• Shift work

• High stress levels

• VDTs (prolonged screen exposure)
  ➡ These factors showed a dose-response effect → more exposure = worse sperm motility and morphology.

Fertile vs Infertile Months ( Boivin et al, 2006)

Do women experience less stress in the months they actually conceive?

Findings:

• Self-reported stress was lower in months when conception happened.

• Hormone stress markers (cortisol, adrenaline, epinephrine) → no significant difference between fertile vs infertile months.

• Conclusion:

  • Psychological stress (how stressed you feel) may interfere with getting pregnant.

  • Biological stress markers didn’t clearly differ — but the study had limitations (nighttime collection).

Key Point for Exam:
Lower perceived stress → more likely to conceive. But stress hormones didn’t show clear changes.

Age & Social Position (Boivin et al., 2006)

Age: Older women → stress has less effect on fertility:
– Lower social position → stress harms fertility more
– Higher social position → stress also affects fertility, but pattern is complex

Stress & Sperm Quality

Major stressful events →
↓ sperm concentration, ↓ motility, ↓ morphology
↑ probability of being below WHO norms

Emotional Stress & Sperm Health

High emotional stress → fewer healthy sperm
CRM therapy improved sperm quality

nfertility → Stress → More Infertility

Stress worsens ovulation, HPG function, sexual behavior.
Infertility distress → higher cortisol → more fertility problems.

Gender & Fertility Stress

Women experience infertility as more stressful; often blamed more; stress lowers conception chances further

Stress → Ovulation Problems

Excessive stress →

• chronic anovulation

• high cortisol → amenorrhea

Predictors of Distress in Infertility Treatment

42% of women had clinically significant distress
Predictors: gender role expectations, social pressure, career identity

Stress & Miscarriage

High pregnancy stress → 80% higher risk of stillbirth (Wisborg et al.)
But some studies show stress often co-occurs with drug use → confound.

Stresses overall effect on fertility

Stress disrupts reproductive hormones (HPG axis), lowers sperm quality, affects ovulation, increases miscarriage risk, and infertility itself increases stress → creating a cycle that worsens fertility outcomes.