Originally published September 8 2005
Stress won't affect in-vitro fertilization success, study finds
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Women undergoing in-vitro fertilization are likely to experience feeling of anxiousness or stress; however, a new study suggests stress is not likely to reduce a woman's chance of success with the fertility treatment.
Many women having fertility treatment feel anxious about the outcome.
But Swedish researchers surveyed 166 women a month before they underwent IVF treatment and found no link between their stress and the eventual outcome.
One hundred and sixty-six women completed a recognised health questionnaire to evaluate their psychological state a month before undergoing their first cycle of IVF treatment.
When researchers looked back at the pre-treatment questionnaires, they found the results did not differ between those who became pregnant and those who did not.
There was also no difference on an additional test which had been given to patients prior to IVF, that was designed specifically to assess 14 emotions often expressed by infertility patients.
She said it was possible patients were keeping worries to themselves because they had great expectations and were giving answers that were more positive than they felt.
It may also have been valuable to question patients at the point the embryos were transferred, which is known to be a time of heightened tension, she said.
But Dr Anderheim said the fact that it was impossible to establish a link in a prospective study between stress and the chances of conceiving via IVF was encouraging.
"During IVF treatment patients frequently ask about the relationship between psychological stress and outcome and often express worries that their own stress might have a negative influence, so the fact that our prospective study did not indicate any relationship is reassuring.
It is reassuring to know that a couples' stress levels are not going to lower their chances of success."
But a spokeswoman for Infertility Network UK said: "Stress may not be a significant factor in the outcome of treatment, but it is a very real factor throughout the infertility process and affects every part of a couples life.
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