A doctor spoke about the negative impact of chronic stress on conception

Stressful situations affect the hormonal balance, which plays a crucial role in the ability to get pregnant. On December 20, Maria Tverdikova, reproductologist at SM-Clinica, told Gazeta.Ru exactly what effect stress has on female fertility and what to do in case of chronic depression.

"Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress. It is part of the body's protective response, helping to survive stressful moments, mobilize energy and increase concentration. However, if cortisol levels remain high for a long time, its effect on female fertility becomes devastating," she explained.

According to Tverdikova, chronically elevated cortisol levels suppress the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which stimulates ovulation. Without this signal, the ovaries cannot receive information about the need to mature an egg, which in turn makes conception impossible.

In addition, in case of prolonged stressful periods, menstrual irregularities such as amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) or irregular cycles often occur, which also makes conception more difficult and in some cases impossible, the specialist added.

"Another hormone that has a direct impact on fertility is prolactin. This hormone plays a key role in lactation, but its level can also increase in response to stress," the expert noted.

Thus, the level of prolactin can increase significantly if a woman experiences chronic stress. Such a process is called hyperprolactinemia. High levels of this hormone can suppress ovulation, disrupt the menstrual cycle and reduce the chances of conception, which, according to Tverdikova, is confirmed by scientific data.

It is noted that an excessive amount of prolactin can lead to imbalance of other hormones, in particular, estrogen and progesterone, responsible for normal reproductive function, which can lead to the development of anovulation (lack of ovulation) and other reproductive problems.

However, she pointed out that stress also decreases the production of melatonin, which regulates the body's circadian rhythms (especially the process of falling asleep and waking up), which in turn leads to a disrupted sleep cycle and has a negative impact on fertility.

"When stress levels are high, nighttime sleep becomes interrupted or shallow, which disrupts melatonin production. This, in turn, affects the balance of reproductive hormones such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which regulate ovulation," the specialist explained.

Tverdikova emphasized that the lack of melatonin not only reduces the quality of sleep, but also hampers the normal hormonal cycle. Referring to research data, she noted that short sleep duration and night shifts, which are precisely associated with disruption of circadian rhythms, can worsen reproductive functions in both women and men.

In addition, she said, research demonstrates that melatonin has antioxidant activity, protecting eggs from oxidative stress. A stress-induced melatonin deficiency can lead to egg damage, which also negatively affects fertility.

Another negative consequence of chronic stress is that it disrupts metabolism and affects metabolism, which can exacerbate fertility problems.

Thus, in case of chronic stress, efforts should be made to reduce it and restore hormonal balance. The doctor advised to optimize sleep, conduct relaxation practices, maintain sufficient physical activity, adhere to a balanced diet, as well as go to consultations with a psychologist or a coach.

In conclusion, the reproductologist noted that chronic stress is not only an emotional burden, but also a serious threat to health, especially to female fertility. Using a comprehensive approach, it is possible to restore the hormonal balance and restore the ability to conceive, summarized Tverdikova.

Earlier, on December 1, the doctor-neurologist of the medical company "SberZdorovye" Polina Lepilova told "Izvestia" about five non-obvious reasons to consult a neurologist. Thus, the reason for consultation with a specialist in this field may be a feeling of anxiety and internal tension, difficulties in falling asleep and waking up, visual disturbances, numbness and tingling in the extremities, as well as discomfort in the legs - pain, burning, tingling, muscle weakness.