HOW STRESS AND IVF FAILURE ARE RELATED?

In vitro fertilization is a process of combination of male sperm with a female egg outside the body or we can say it is a technical process where male sperm fertilizes a female egg in a petri dish which contains the liquid-like substance. In this aided process of reproduction ovum extracted from the ovary and let sperms fertilize an ovum in a liquid substance after this process embryo is transferred to the uterus.

SYMPTOMS OF SUCCESSFUL IVF

• When regular periods are missed
  
• The desire for urinates increases
  
• Some noticeable changes in breast size and shape
  
• vaginal discharge during the first five days following embryo transfer
  
• Nausea
  
• Fatigue
  

Food which should be considered during IVF treatment are as follows: -

• leafy greens
  
• whole grains
  
• lean meats
  
• nuts
  
• fresh veggies
  
• fruits etc.
  

Food which should be avoided during IVF treatment

• Trans fat
  
• Refined carbs
  
• Processed foods and meats
  
• Excessive salt and sugar etc.
  
• In some studies, it is found that women who are undergoing
  
• IVF treatment has a high level of stress and anxiety.
  

The relation between stress and IVF success

To assess the relationship between the changes in hypothalamic – pituitary- adrenal (axis) and sympathetic nervous system and stress in a woman who is undergoing IVF treatment during the first IVF cycle. For reproduction result there were some questionnaires was prepared for 264 women who were undergoing for IVF treatment to measure and norepinephrine and cortisol in serum and it is found that lower level of norepinephrine and cortisol in those women who had successful treatment in comparison to those women who gets pregnant naturally but it is observed that value of norepinephrine and cortisol increases during the pregnancy period in those women who are undergoing on IVF treatments.

STRESS AND IVF FAILURE

There are only 29.5% of chances for successful IVF in the first try.

There are many reasons for the IVF failure i.e.

Improper implantation of the embryo(s)

Due to embryonic arrest

Stress can also be the reason for IVF failure but it is found that every woman has different abilities to deal with stress.

Stress can or cannot be the reason for IVF failure. It depends on the abilities to deal with these.

There are some ways to reduces stress before, during or after IVF treatment which are as follows:

1. One should consult to a counselor
   
2. Meditation is one of the best ways to reduce stress
   
3. Rest is very important
   
4. Communication with person who is undergoing for IVF treatment
   
5. Exercise
   
6. Some happy time with family and friends etc
   
7. Generally, chances of getting pregnant is decreases by 1% after 5 unsuccessful IVF cycles.
   

STRESS DURING IVF TREATMENT

Stress during IVF is normal for a woman who is undergoing this treatment. there are certain types of stress a woman feels during or before and after this procedure which are:

MENTAL STRESS: Mental stress is psychological stress a woman feels before or during IVF treatment or her pregnancy after IVF treatment. most of the women are stress about:

Fear of failure of IVF due to any reason

Stress over permanent infertility

No hopes for pregnancy

Even after a successful pregnancy through IVF treatment, the fear of abortion is continuous

PHYSICAL STRESS: every woman who is undergoing for this treatment occupied with some physical stress before and during the period of this a procedure which are:

Medical checkups and tests before the treatment such as

• Ovarian reserve testing
  
• Semen analysis
  
• Infection disease screening
  
• Practice [ mock] embryo transfer etc
  
• Daily painful injections during this treatment
  
• Ultrasound check-ups
  
• Retrieval of an ovum from the ovary
  
• Blood is drawn
  
• Cramps during this procedure
  
• Other side effects of this treatment
  

Apart from mental and physical stress, there are other stressful reasons such as follows:

• Loss of work
  
• The high cost is involved
  
• Strain in relationship
  

DOES STRESS AFFECTS IVF SUCCESS?

The couple has very questions, like does stress, affects IVF success? Most of the times stress have very little impact on the IVF success or even in many situation stresses don’t play any role in IVF outcomes. Under some study over 3500 women who are going through IVF treatment, it is concluded that stress has no impact over the chances of their pregnancy. This is great news for every couple who is considering this treatment. Even if women are diagnosed with depression, anxiety or high level of stress does not affect the rate of IVF success. But women who are considering IVF treatment should not be careless about her diet and her surroundings. one should always consult the doctors and psychiatrist for emotional and practical needs.