Depression and Infertility

Researches reveal that depression has a great impact on the fertility of any person. A healthy state of mind is equally essential for conceiving as is a healthy state of the body. However the exact relationship between depression and infertility has not been disclosed yet, this is because up till now the entire attention was given to the fuzzy characterization of depression rather than the actual impact it upon fertility and its symptoms.

Couples naturally become depressed after failed attempts at getting pregnant. They start to keep distance from each other both physically and mentally thereby reducing the chances of a pregnancy. This state also affects the immediate families of the partners.  Open talks with each other and also seeking help from a trained counselor can help them overcome the problem of depression.

Recent researches have proved that stress causing depression or anxiety can modify the immune system of a person thereby affecting his/ her fertility. However, the relationship between infertility and depression is still not understood properly. As we all know that infertility can cause depression but how depression causes infertility is still to be discovered and studied in depth.

As we all know, the reproductive system is one of the most delicate systems in our body. Even a minor form of depression can affect your potential of getting pregnant on various levels. Depression can contribute to changes in adrenal or pituitary responses because of over-activation of the hypothalamus or it can alter the levels of hormones in the body by inhibiting the hypothalamus.

Even minor changes in the pituitary gland can drastically affect levels of hormones in the body since its function is to regulate the production and release of various hormones. Such changes can cause disruption of ovulation cycle or fertilization cycle, functioning of the tubes, and also the egg implantation after it gets into the womb. 

The uterus and the fallopian tubes are directly connected to the nerve fibers of the brain. In other words, there is a direct connection between the brain and the reproductive system. So the ability of the ovaries to produce healthy eggs is directly influenced by the autonomous nervous system. Because of this, whenever a woman slips into a state of depression, there is the occurrence of spasms in the uterus and fallopian tubes which hinders the process of implantation and also the movement of a fertilized egg.

Depression affects the ability of a man to impregnate a woman. Under the state of depression, the quality of his sperm such as mobility, sperm count and structure of sperm is altered. A man who is emotionally distressed, face various problems including impotence, difficulties in ejaculation etc.

Abnormal psychological functioning on the part of both or either of the partners also referred to as functional infertility can be one of the causes of infertility. Psychological and emotional causes adversely affect the functioning of reproductive system. When a person is experiencing depression, several neuro chemical changes occur inside his body. Such changes modify the release pattern of hormones in the body. It is very important to have a normal and controlled production of hormones inside the body to regulate the release and maturation of the eggs. So such changes in the hormone system can affect the fertility factor of the person to a great extent.

It is very important that you immediately consult a doctor if you are experiencing such a situation. This will protect you from a vicious circle of depression causing infertility and then further aggravation of situation by infertility causing depression.