Stress in General
Most of us know that long-term stress isn’t great for our bodies, even if we don’t quite understand why or how. Today we want to zero-in on stress and its effects on the reproductive system and fertility, and how acupuncture can reduce the effects of stress.
What we’ve noticed in clinic is that many people these days tend to think about stress only in its more extreme forms. They might think of heart palpitations, shallow breathing, sleep disturbances, anxiety, or a feeling of overwhelm. However, often people have put temporary coping mechanisms into place so they aren’t aware of the impacts of stress, and then they think they aren’t stressed. Drinking multiple cups of coffee or tea per day, filling up every moment of the day and not stopping, and taking medication for sleep are some that we’ve seen are quite common.
While stress and anxiety are different, they do have some shared links, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found that 17% of Australians experience some type of anxiety disorder. That’s quite a lot of the population (about 5 million people)!
Stress doesn’t always come from one place either. Work, family, finances, colleagues, or friends can be a source of stress, as can concern about local and global politics, and social, economic, and environmental issues. Then there is the physical stress that comes from eating foods and drinking beverages that have additives, chemicals and pesticides, refined sugars, and more. Or from being exposed to environmental chemicals like PFAs and ‘forever chemicals’. (Read our previous blog here for more about those).
So our bodies, more often than not, are under some sort of stress. And don’t get us wrong, some stress is good for us–but generally not the amount that we are subjected to in this day and age.
Despair not! There are plenty of things you can do to mitigate the body’s response to stress. Moderate exercise, breathing techniques, journaling, meditation, being with loved ones, a good long chat with a friend, antioxidants, and of course acupuncture (which we are focusing on today) can help. The list of things you can do to support your mind and body is probably as long as the things that cause stress in the first place. Thank goodness!
So what does this stress do to the reproductive system when we don’t manage it?
Stress and Fertility
The direct link between stress and fertility has not been well researched yet. We know from studies that stress activates the adrenal glands to produce more of the ‘stress hormones’ such as cortisol, adrenaline (epinephrine), and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). Stress also increases levels of the reproductive hormone prolactin and changes the communication pathway between the hormones that are released from the brain (LH and FSH) and the ovaries or testes. Levels of inflammation throughout the body can also be affected by the stress response.
What does this mean in more practical terms? Well, in one study on stressed mice, results showed that the increase in cortisol levels meant the female mice had impaired follicular development and immature oocytes (eggs).
Long term stress is also linked to something called functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA), which can lead to a lack of periods or irregular cycles, drops in the crucial reproductive hormones of LH, FSH, and estrogen, all of which can then lead to infertility and other health concerns.
High levels of prolactin from short or long-term stress and anxiety have also been linked to irregular menstrual cycles or a lack of periods, PCOS, low libido, and infertility.
In another study in women undergoing IVF, stress decreased oocytes retrieved and fertilized, as well as decreased pregnancy rate and live birth rates.
High levels of inflammation caused by stress can negatively impact egg health, sperm health, and implantation rates.
As you can see, the effects of stress on the reproductive system is multifaceted and this is definitely an area that needs more research and exploration!
Acupuncture and Stress Reduction
We know from clinical experience that our clients feel more relaxed after acupuncture. They share with us that they feel lighter, more present, and that their muscles aren’t as tense. And it isn’t just during a session or directly after, people say that the effects last for days following an acupuncture session.
The research concurs with what we’ve observed. Acupuncture seems to reduce anxiety as well as reduce cortisol levels – that hormone that is linked to stress.
Some of the other positive outcomes from acupuncture that we’ve noticed over the years in clinic are a more regular menstrual cycle, reduction in period pain, and bringing on the period when it has stopped. All which may be in part due to acupuncture’s support for the body during stress. And all of which are important for fertility.
Again in studies, the stress-reducing effects of acupuncture worked after only 5-10 sessions. This is why we recommend, if possible, to start acupuncture a couple of months prior to an IVF cycle, or as early as possible – to get the best results.
One meta-analysis (a study that assesses many other studies) concluded that acupuncture can also decrease the stress and anxiety that many patients feel prior to an operation. In speaking with some of the fertility doctors, we’ve heard the same observation from them – the patients who have had the pre/post acupuncture for an embryo transfer are more relaxed. This includes the muscles around the cervix so it’s easier for them to do their job – which is definitely what you want!
So if you are thinking about acupuncture, know that it is good for whole-body health and one reason is because it helps the body manage stress. In particular, consider acupuncture when you are trying to conceive and start as early as possible (not only during an IVF cycle) to get the best benefit from the sessions.
We also recommend acupuncture throughout a pregnancy, particularly throughout the first trimester and to prepare for labour.
And of course, post-birth is a great time to receive acupuncture to help relieve stress, support healing, and have some down time. So if you are able to find someone to look after your newborn, come and treat yourself to a session.
We look forward to seeing you in clinic soon to support your body and mind to manage stress levels.
References:
- Cameron, Judy L. “Stress and behaviorally induced reproductive dysfunction in primates.” In Seminars in reproductive endocrinology, vol. 15, no. 01, pp. 37-45, 1997 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 1997.
- Manika Kala, Manish Nivsarkar, “Role of cortisol and superoxide dismutase in psychological stress induced anovulation”, General and Comparative Endocrinology, Vol. 225, pp 117-124, 2016, ISSN 0016-6480
- “Prevalence and impact of mental illness”, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2025
- Amorim, Diogo, et al. “Electroacupuncture and acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety-A double blinded randomized parallel clinical trial.” Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 46 (2022): 101541.
- Errington-Evans, Nick. “Randomised controlled trial on the use of acupuncture in adults with chronic, non-responding anxiety symptoms.” Acupuncture in Medicine 33.2 (2015): 98-102.
- Bae, Hyojeong, et al. “Efficacy of acupuncture in reducing preoperative anxiety: a meta‐analysis.” Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014.1 (2014): 850367.
- Iancu, Mirela E., Alice I. Albu, and Dragoș N. Albu. “Prolactin relationship with fertility and in vitro fertilization outcomes—A review of the literature.” Pharmaceuticals 16, no. 1 (2023): 122.
