How much does stress affect conception?

[catmad2010]

Hi

I am TTC for the first time. I came off the pill one month ago and had ovulation symptoms this week (phew), but I've been very tense all week and not slept much thinking about TTC. So, simple question - does stress really affect your chances of conceiving or is it an urban myth as your body will conceive regardless?

Thanks

Stress can make your body delay ovulation. This could affect your fertility if you are assuming you are ovulating on a certain day and miss timing your SWI

I am no expert but have just finished reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility which tells you all about it. I have also just started charting (taking my temperature every day and checking cervical position and cervical fluid) and could see quite clearly that my body geared up for ovulation, (I even had a positive OPK) then nothing happened then I finally ovulated three days later (I am post MC and VERY stressed about everything!)

Thanks MummyAbroad. It's so difficult not to stress isn't it!! I've been on the pill for so long I can't even remember what a cycle is so I only knew I had ovulation symptoms after they had gone when I looked on the internet to see what was going on!
I know a friend of mine took her temperatue and it seemed to work for her so I think when I'm in a proper cycle I'll look to doing that.

Good luck too.

If you are looking for a good way to get started, I can really recommend the email tutorials that you get for free on this site

www.fertilityfriend.com

you can also input you data and it makes a lovely colour coded chart for you! Easy peasy.

Thanks very much for the website hint - I have joined it as suggested, but not looked at it properly as I'm off to get beauty sleep for work tomorrow :) It looks easy enough to use thankfully! :)