According to statistics, every eighth couple in the world faces problems conceiving. In some cases, the inability to conceive a child may be due to the so-called psychological infertility, Elena Dedova, a fertility specialist at the infertility treatment and IVF department of the Lapino clinical hospital, told Izvestia.
According to her, it is possible to talk about infertility if a couple fails to have a child under the condition of regular sexual life without contraception for one year – for patients under 35 years old, and six months – for patients over 35 years old. The age limit is due to the fact that women are born with a certain supply of eggs, which decreases as they age.
As the doctor clarified, the cause of infertility in 20-30% of cases is the pathology of the female reproductive system, in 20-30% – the quality of the biological material of the man, and in 25-40% of cases – pathologies are observed in both partners.
“Rarely enough, but still there are couples who, during the examination, did not reveal the reasons why pregnancy does not occur. In everyday life, this is called psychological infertility. In medicine, there is no such term, but there is the concept of “infertility of unknown origin.” About 10-15% of couples face it, ”said Dedova.
However, before making such a diagnosis, doctors conduct a series of examinations to rule out physiological causes. So, the specialist checks the condition of the pelvic organs, the patency of the fallopian tubes, the hormonal profile of patients, as well as the data of the man’s spermogram. Also, for women after 35 years of age, the assessment of the ovarian reserve, that is, donating blood for AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone), which is an indicator of a woman’s fertility, is of particular importance.
“Of course, when planning a pregnancy, the psychological attitude is very important, and stress can affect the result. According to large clinical studies, in women undergoing treatment for infertility, depression was detected in 35-40% of cases, and increased anxiety was also noted, ”the Izvestia interlocutor said.
However, sometimes the very fact of not being pregnant can cause deep psychological stress for a couple, which has a cumulative effect. The doctor urged not to be shy about contacting specialists, emphasizing that an increase in stress hormones leads to a malfunction in the entire hormonal system of the body, as a result of which even sex hormones can begin to “work incorrectly”.
Commenting on the impact of stress and negative emotions on the result of conception, Dedova made a reference to one of the foreign studies. It showed that about 50% of women and 15% of men described infertility as the most unpleasant experience in their lives. Men are less likely to report such experiences than women. However, their response to infertility may depend on which partner is diagnosed with a fertility problem.
“When the problem is with a woman, men don’t report experiencing the same degree of stress as women, but men who find themselves infertile report the same levels of depression and low self-esteem as women,” she explained. expert.
Dedova attributed the side effects of medications, financial problems and uncertainty about the results of treatment to factors contributing to depression. Typical emotional responses include shock, depression, grief, disappointment, decreased self-confidence, low self-esteem, and loss of a sense of control over the future.
“It is difficult to say that the psychological state is precisely the root cause of infertility, such data have not been confirmed, but it has been proven that it can have a negative impact on the conception process. Therefore, you should not suffer for years from the inability to get pregnant, you should immediately contact a reproductive specialist, ”the doctor urged.
Modern technologies allow us to solve almost any problems of conception, Dedova summed up.
In February, obstetrician-gynecologist Diana Zhilina spoke about the vitamins necessary for a woman’s body during pregnancy. According to the doctor, useful substances should be taken at the preparatory stage three months before the planned conception, since the supply of vitamins will be useful for both the expectant mother and the baby. If the pregnancy is unplanned, folic acid should be started as soon as the woman finds out she is pregnant.