If you are looking for a pregnancy, you will have heard this phrase on more than one occasion: “stop thinking about it. When you relax you’ll get it.” We talked about false myths about fertility in the fourth and last block of contents of the maternity and fertility survey that we have carried out nationwide. About what really affects fertility, and what doesn’t, we talk in this blog with Dr. Anabel Salazar, director of IVI Málaga, and the patients Jessica and Irene.
Stress and its relationship with fertility
Irene and Jessica, IVI patients and mothers, told us about what we were talking about, but they remember how, when they were in the process and shared it with their environment, they heard phrases like “It’s stress. What you need is a vacation and as soon as you relax you will get pregnant”.
“The truth is that relaxing does not make you pregnant. Much has been studied in this regard, and it is true that everything adds up, and if you are more receptive on a vital and emotional level, it seems that the probability of achieving your goals is greater. But if we were to highlight the main factors associated with fertility, stress would not be among them”says Dr. Salazar.
And it is that, thanks to this survey carried out in Spain, in collaboration with G.F.K., we have perceived different concerns related to the emotional aspect, with the exhaustion at this level, in the search for a pregnancy and about the factors that really affect fertility. And no, as we said, stress is not one of the things that should worry you the most.
“Among the data that emerged from the survey, it is worth noting the striking percentage that indicates that 97% of women believe that stress is the factor that most affects female fertility, even above age (98%) . Although it is true that as we move towards more advanced ages of those surveyed, the affirmation of age as a factor with an impact on fertility increases. In this case, 96% of women between 40-45 years of age indicate age as a factor that negatively influences female fertility”adds the director of IVI Málaga.
Other fertility beliefs
Continuing with the conclusions obtained in our survey, behind stress and age, 84% of the participants consider alcohol consumption. The next step would be for sexually transmitted diseases (80%), indicated significantly by those under 36 years of age. In last place, the respondents have placed following an unhealthy eating style (74%).
If we talk about the factors that the participants in the study have pointed out as the ones that least affect fertility, they would be not exercising. This fact only seems to be significant for half of the participants, mainly young women between 25 and 29 years of age.
Real factors of infertility
“At a medical level we could highlight three main factors that significantly influence female fertility. The first of them points towards age. We could say that advanced maternal age currently has an impact of more than 50%, taking into account that, in Spain, the age at which the first child is sought is 32-33 years, which is in direct conflict with the moment of greater fertility of the woman, that is located in the 25 years. Now, from the outset, we are 8 years late ”explains Dr. Salazar.
Other factors that affect female fertility are endometriosis pathologies and polycystic ovaries. And it is that 1 in 10 women of childbearing age are diagnosed with endometriosis. Furthermore, as Dr. Salazar adds: “50% of women with endometriosis present infertility. And these women with endometriosis, moreover, come later every time for consultation. So, when you add age and, for example, endometriosis, the situation gets complicated.”. Taking into account, in addition, that it is a pathology that has no cure.
On the other hand, in recent years we are seeing an increase in sexually transmitted diseases. This can lead to relevant tubal problems, also taking into account that many of these diseases are asymptomatic.
“And we must not forget another fundamental problem such as the polycystic ovary, closely linked to overweight and obesity. We are at a time in our society in which the rates of overweight and obesity are increasing every year, especially in young people. For this reason, it is interesting to emphasize the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle, exercising, maintaining a good diet… If we do not control it, we may be making reproductive success more difficult”clarifies Dr. Salazar.
Emotions can be a brake on this path
Equally important is physical and emotional well-being, especially to face the process of assisted reproduction treatment. As Dr. Salazar comments: “The main brake on many occasions for women and couples with reproductive problems is assuming that they need treatment to start a family. There are women who may feel less women for needing medical help to achieve a pregnancy. They get stuck trying to achieve it naturally. But in the end, if the desire to be a mother is stronger, they look for a way to make it come true. Hence the importance of the Emotional Support Unit that accompanies and helps patients to modulate their emotions”concludes Dr. Salazar.
