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Stress affects pregnancy

Women have a more difficult time conceiving when they are under stress. It is essential to help women reduce their stress when they are trying to get pregnant.

Stress affects pregnancy

Women have a more difficult time conceiving when they are under stress.

Alpha-amylase is an enzyme that is secreted in saliva primarily to digest starch. It is also released when the nervous system produces catecholamines - hormones that are released by the adrenal glands in response to stress.

To explore the association between stress and pregnancy, researchers followed 274 English women, aged 18 to 40 years, who were trying to conceive. Participants were observed for six cycles or until pregnancy and their saliva samples were collected on sixth day of each cycle to detect levels of alpha-amylase and cortisol in their saliva. Fertility monitors were used to identify ovulation and pregnancy test kits to detect pregnancy.

It was found that women with high alpha-amylase levels were less likely to conceive than those with low levels. Overall, 25 percent of the women in the study who had the highest alpha-amylase levels had an estimated 12 percent lower chance of getting pregnant in each cycle as compared to women with the lowest concentrations. Stress may increase with the disappointment of several failed attempts at getting pregnant, setting off a vicious cycle in which pregnancy becomes even more difficult to achieve.

The study suggests that high levels of stress are adversely associated with conception in women. According to the study, it is essential to help women reduce their stress when they are trying to get pregnant.
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