Being stressed can make getting pregnant more difficult, Ohio State University researchers say.
Women with high levels of alpha-amylase — a biological indicator of stress that is measured using saliva — are 29% less likely to get pregnant and twice as likely to meet the clinical definition of infertility, the researchers found.
They tracked 501 American women between the ages of 18 and 40 who were free from known fertility problems. The women were part of the study for 12 months, or until they became pregnant.
Courtney Denning-Johnson Lynch said the results show women who are having difficulty getting pregnant may want to consider stress reduction techniques, such as yoga and meditation.
But Lynch also said in a release Monday that women should not place all the blame on stress — there may be other factors.
The study was published online in the journal Human Reproduction.