Stress has no effect on IVF pregnancy

Emotional distress caused by infertility treatment, or day-to-day stress in a couple’s life, will not prevent the technique from working, according to a study.

Experts said many women believe they will not get pregnant either naturally or after fertility treatment if they are stressed.

But a review of 14 studies on fertility treatment and stress found this not to be the case.

Last year, experts at Oxford University found that high stress levels might cut the chance of falling pregnant in women trying to conceive naturally.

Markers for two stress hormones, adrenalin and cortisol, were measured in saliva.

Those women with the highest levels of alpha-amylase (an indicator of adrenalin levels) had about a 12 per cent lower chance of getting pregnant during their fertile days each month compared to those with the lowest levels of the marker.

In the latest study, experts led by Professor Jacky Boivin from the Cardiff Fertility Studies Research Group found that women who were stressed or anxious had the same chance of falling pregnant as those who were calmer.