Stress lowers odds of in vitro pregnancy
Women who experience prolonged periods of stress face lower pregnancy rates with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) than do women with less stress, Italian researchers report.
Stress is known to influence blood levels of certain hormones and to weaken the immune response, according to Dr Fabio Facchinetti and colleagues at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Modena, Italy.
The investigators studied the immune responses and pregnancy rates of 40 women undergoing IVF to determine if there was any link between stress and the odds of getting pregnant.
Nearly 28% of the women got pregnant from their IVF procedure, and nine of them gave birth to healthy babies, the authors report. The rest did not get pregnant.
The women who got pregnant scored significantly lower on a test that measures a person’s typical psychological reactions to stressful conditions, according to the report published in the July issue of Fertility and Sterility. Women who got pregnant also showed less of a tendency to feel stress during the IVF procedure itself.
Immune responses differed between the two groups, as well. Certain immune cells, called T-helper cells, became activated in higher numbers in the women who became pregnant, while other cells, called T-suppressor cells, were more numerous in women who did not get pregnant, the report indicates.
The researchers conclude that the decreased ability to adapt to stress results in increased numbers of activated T-suppressor cells and that the combination of stress and immune response can lead to lower pregnancy rates.
“IVF is a procedure that is physically and psychologically stressful,” Facchinetti told Reuters Health. “Therefore, couples should be really [in agreement] when they decide for IVF. They should be aware that the procedure greatly interferes with their life. They need to allow much time for the procedures, not only for obvious exams, but also for discussing [the entire process], the life changes implied, the high probability of failure.”
He also suggested that interventions be developed to help couples have realistic expectations about IVF and to reduce women’s anxiety.
