Stress and fertility: How mindfulness can support conception goals

The journey to parenthood can be exciting but also emotionally and physically challenging. While medical interventions play a vital role in addressing fertility issues, holistic approaches such as mindfulness can be a valuable addition to support your conception goals.

We speak to leading obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Larisa Corda, who aims to shed light on how mindfulness practices can positively impact fertility and overall well-being during this time.

What is mindfulness, and how can it help?

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment, without judgement. It involves techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and body awareness to help reduce stress and promote a sense of calm.

For individuals or couples trying to conceive, stress can disrupt the delicate hormonal balance necessary for ovulation and sperm production. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol, for instance, can interfere with reproductive hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. However, rather than just being a cause of stress, subfertility can also be the result of unintegrated trauma and stress from previous life experiences. By practising mindfulness, you may help regulate these hormones, creating a more conducive environment for conception and for overall health to flourish. By practising mindfulness, you may help regulate these hormones, creating a more conducive environment for conception and overall health to flourish. 

How does stress impact fertility?

When trying to conceive, stress often feels unavoidable. However, its effects on the body can be significant. This is because the nervous system is so closely intertwined with every single cell in your body. Stress activates the body’s “fight or flight” response, leading to hormonal, biochemical and energeticchanges that can impact ovulation and also affect sperm production, as well as implantation. I discuss this in a lot of detail in the chapter on Stress in my book, The Conception Plan.

Chronic stress can also reduce libido and strain relationships, making the conception journey feel more burdensome. Mindfulness practices can help interrupt these stress cycles by calming the nervous system, reducing cortisol levels, and improving overall emotional resilience.

Can mindfulness improve your physical health?

Yes, mindfulness can positively affect your physical health, which in turn supports fertility. Addressing stress and introducing techniques to help someone deal with unresolved stress is a regular part of what I do with the patients that I see in clinic. Regular mindfulness practice has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, and boost immune function—all of which are essential when preparing your body for pregnancy.

Additionally, mindfulness can help you tune into your body’s needs, encouraging healthier lifestyle choices like balanced eating, regular exercise and more restful sleep. These choices are key factors in enhancing fertility for both men and women.

How does mindfulness support emotional well-being?

Trying to conceive can take an emotional toll, especially if the process is longer or more complicated than expected. Feelings of frustration, anxiety, or sadness are common but can become overwhelming. Mindfulness provides tools to navigate these emotions with greater ease.

For example, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a structured programme involving meditation and yoga, has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. By fostering emotional stability, mindfulness helps you approach your fertility journey with a more positive outlook, which can also strengthen relationships with your partner and support systems.

Could mindfulness complement medical treatments?

For those undergoing fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), mindfulness can be a valuable complement. Studies suggest that women who practise mindfulness during fertility treatments often report lower anxiety levels and improved emotional well-being, which may enhance the success of these treatments.

Mindfulness can also support adherence to treatment schedules and help manage the physical and emotional demands associated with assisted reproductive technologies.

If you would like to book a consultation with Dr Corda, simply visit her Top Doctors profile today.