When you’re trying to conceive when suffering with infertility, it can feel like your whole life is consumed by doctors’ appointments, self-imposed rules about sex, and a lot of hope and prayers. It’s easy to lose sight of your emotional and spiritual well-being in the midst of it all.
But the truth is, your emotional and spiritual well-being is key to better fertility outcomes. Issues like stress, anxiety, depression, and others have medical significance too apart from the impact on the quality of life.
The Emotional Impact of Infertility
Infertility can take a toll on your mental health. It’s common to feel anxious, stressed, and depressed when you’re trying to conceive. These emotions can impact your fertility. Stress can lead to hormonal imbalances that make it difficult to ovulate or carry a pregnancy to term. Cortisol, the stress hormone is known to disrupt ovarian function and can lead to more complications in infertile couples.
It’s important to understand that these feelings are normal and common. The experience of infertility is something that affects a large number of couples across the world.
When you’re struggling with infertility, it’s easy to focus on the physical aspects of your fertility journey. But your emotional and spiritual well-being is just as crucial to your fertility success.
Here are Some Tips for Coping with Infertility
Regular Physical Exercise and Consistent Sleep Pattern
The power of movement and exercise is quite immense. Nothing can replace a few good minutes of moderate physical exercise. It is not just important for the medical aspects, it has an impact on mental health too.
Lack of sleep is something over 30 percent of Americans struggle with every year, and it only gets worse for patients dealing with the stress of undergoing fertility treatments. But for couples trying to get pregnant, a lack of sleep could be sabotaging their efforts. Your health, mood, hormones, and fertility are all be affected by how much, and how well, you sleep.
In order to improve sleep quality and increase their chances of getting pregnant, women should:
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Too few or too many hours can negatively affect fertility.
- Unplug before bed. Put away computers, phones, tablets, and other electronics at least an hour before bedtime.
- If you work swing shifts or night shifts, speak with your employer about changing your schedule. If this isn’t possible, ask your employer if it would be possible to adjust the lighting accordingly.
Focusing on your Diet
A good diet is also important to maintain good mental health and boost your fertility. Your gut health is a significant factor in neurological health, as gut bacteria influence the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. In people with depression, dopamine and serotonin levels are often found to be quite low. Having a good diet with whole foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, fibers, and antioxidant-rich foods can help maintain good mental health.
Friends and Support Groups
Talk about your feelings. Don’t bottle them up. Talk to your partner, a friend, or a therapist about how you’re feeling. The journey of infertility can be quite challenging and isolating. Having people that can help you go through the tough times is important.
It may be helpful to join a support group for people dealing with infertility. Infertility is an issue that is far too common today and there will be other infertile patients who are going through the same journey as you. Getting together with them, sharing your struggles, and often learning from each other can help.
Conclusion
Infertility is a difficult journey, and it can take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being. By taking care of yourself emotionally and spiritually, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance of success. So don’t forget to nurture your mind and soul as you navigate this tough journey — it could make all the difference in the end.
Rise Fertility has an expert panel of doctors who are well-trained in holistic treatment for your fertility issues. By working closely with each patient and developing a specific plan that is tailored to your issues and supporting you in any way you need, we take care of your journey towards a baby end-to-end. Schedule a consultation with us today!
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