Is there any science to ‘relaxing’ when TTC?

[Superstorefan123]

Going in with my hard hat on!

I’ve been TTC 11 months - 2 miscarriages and 2 rounds of clomid included. I wouldn’t say I’d been stressed per se but I have been tracking religiously and timing intercourse, plus avoiding alcohol/caffeine/intense exercise/certain foods.

This month we have ditched all tracking and are just having sex every other day - can’t quite bring myself to drink alcohol but am doing all other things. Have also booked an adventure holiday!

Is there any evidence to ‘relaxing’? Any positive stories of taking a more relaxed approach after struggling?

Please no ‘I got pregnant first month drunk’ stories as I think we can all agree that is just good luck!

Definitely. Stress creates hormone imbalances that impact all the other hormones that are important for fertility.

My periods have been affected during grief and my friends have during mental health episodes like anorexia / anxiety. I once had high prolactin in a blood test because I was momentarily flustered (I was late for the appT, needle scratched etc). They repeated the test when I was chilled and it went away! Prolactin is a natural contraceptive, so had I been trying it wouldn't have helped.

So yes, stress definitely affects your body. But luck is also a HUGE factor. Nothing about fertility is an exact science...

I believe stress has a negative affect on health generally including fertility. I had a stressful year last year and had so many symptoms attributed to it which have all gone since those stressors are out of my life. We started TTC in January and I haven’t changed anything in my lifestyle - no tracking or tests, still have caffeine and alcohol, exercise as usual.

I think to a certain extent maybe. But I don't think most people start off TTC very stressed. They may get stressed after a long period of trying. If stress was a major major factor no one would ever get pregnant in war zones, after rape or anytime there was bad life events etc.
Saying that I tried for a year. Religiously tracked ovulation and temps etc, legs in the air and all the healthy diet and vitamins. Then I got sick one month with a bad cold and didn't bother tracking and had much less sex that month, didn't eat healthy and definitely didn't do any legs in the air etc. I'd pretty much ruled that month out, and that's the month I got pregnant. Sadly it ended in a MMC but it has made me less worried about doing all the things "right". I still track ovulation but I don't get as stressed about it now as I think it's all mainly luck.

I don't think it does really and I've been ttc for dc2 for 5 and a bit years (including ivf, surgeries and 4 mc). If anyone tells you to 'just relax' or go on holiday and it will happen, you have my permission to poke them in the eye!

Stress absolutely plays a part.
My bereavement midwife also recommends exercise, specifically keeping to what you do, so if you walk or run, keep it up in a pregnancy.
I've just had my recurrent mc tests back and I'm deficient in vitamin d so I'm hoping this will help me as I begin the ttc process again.