Women's Health and Fertility

Stress and How It Affects US

What is Stress?

Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective.

As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it.

How does stress affect my body and my health?

Everyone has stress. We have short-term stress, like getting lost while driving or missing the bus. Even everyday events, such as planning a meal or making time for errands, can be stressful. This kind of stress can make us feel worried or anxious.

Other times, we face long-term stress, such as racial discrimination, a life-threatening illness, or divorce. These stressful events also affect your health on many levels. Long-term stress is real and can increase your risk for some health problems, such as depression and high blood pressure. It can also make any health issues we may worse as is shown by research.

Women are particularly susceptible to stress

Women are socialized to be the caretakers of others. More women then men have a career outside the home and continue to try to juggle traditional responsibilities after hours. Over 70% of married women with children under the age of 18 are employed outside the home. Sociologists describe women as struggling to achieve the "male standard" at work, while trying to maintain the perfect wife and mother standards at home.

Can stress cause infertility?

In rare cases, extreme stress can interfere with normal ovulation in women and may reduce sperm production in men. However, while it's possible for stress to cause infertility, it's far more common for infertility to cause stress. According to the ASRM, "infertility can be a major crisis because the important life goal of parenthood is threatened." For couples who aren't immediately successful in their efforts to conceive, stress-reduction techniques can help keep this anxiety in check.

Stress can Cause

• Accidents
• Headaches
• Bowel disorders
• Poor digestion
• Skin disorders
• Eating disorders
• Emotional disorders
• Asthma attacks
• High blood pressure/strokes
• Colds/infections
• Backache Arthritis/immune disorders
• Heart attacks/recovery
• Cancer
• Ulcers
• Sexual dysfunction


Here are some examples of activities that can help to
refresh the body and mind: Taking baths



• Reading
• breathing exercises
• Receiving back rubs/massages
• Listening to relaxation tapes
• Writing in a journal
• Meeting with a friend
• Napping
• Walking
• Dancing
• Engaging in spiritual reflection
• Stretching
• Listening to music

Please see  High Blood Pressure

.