February 25, 2011

Women have long believed that stress could interfere with hormone levels and affect their chances of pregnancy.

And it could be true for some women who naturally try to conceive, said Dr. James Grifo, director of NYU Fertility Center and professor of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Stress can stop ovulation, he said. And the constant worry of infertility could also impair a couple's physical and emotional capacity to have sex.

"I don't think there's a right or wrong for fertility treatments. A lot of patients benefit from mind-body approaches while others don't," said Grifo. "You should not feel obligated to do anything."

And for some couples for whom no approach may work, more important than stress relief is to support the couple as they overcome their emotional grief, he said.

"Telling women that fertility treatments didn't work because they were stressed is making them feel bad for no reason because it's not even right," said Grifo.

ABC News: Does Stress Decrease Your Chances of Getting Pregnant?