According to Marie Otsuka, a fertility coach who has had 10 years of experience in helping couples conceive, the largest problem that plagues infertile Singaporeans is stress.
It’s pretty obvious that high stress levels have an impact on fertility, but Marie shares that many Singaporean couples underestimate exactly how much damage high stress levels can do.
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“All the couples I’ve seen know that they should try and decrease their stress levels, but they find it very hard to commit to it,” says Marie. “It’s common in this day and age for Singaporeans to put their career as their top priority, and overwork themselves – but when this happens, it makes it that much harder for them to conceive.”
A study published in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine News, in fact, shows that stress plays a role in up to 30% of infertility problems. Margareta D. Pisarska, who’s a co-director of Center for Reproductive Medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, says that this is “unsurprising”, but that couples need to really buckle down and make “drastic changes” to their lifestyle if they’re truly serious about getting pregnant.
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Other than work-related stress, some couples also suffer from “self-inflicted” stress from the immense amount of pressure they put on themselves.
“Some couples want a baby so badly, they end up in a counterproductive situation,” says Marie. These couples spend too much time worrying about, say, their finances, when they should be focusing on finding out when is the right timing to have sex, and learning more about the physiology of the reproductive system. Marie also shares that she’s had several couples who finally got pregnant after giving up on trying to conceive, and deciding to just let things be.
“To couples trying to get pregnant, your best bet would be to minimize your stress levels, and to not worry excessively if you’ve been trying for less than a year,” advises Marie. If arranging for a more flexible working schedule or a reduced number of hours is not possible, opt for simple things such as setting a timer on your phone to remind yourself to take a short break every hour.
Many couples also benefit from the accountability that a fertility coach offers.
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“It’s easy to commit to reducing your stress levels in your mind, but then slip into the same routine once you’re back at work,” says Marie. “For many of my clients, the regular check-ins with me, regardless of whether it’s done via phone, text, or in-person, is a vital part of the process. Having someone who’s with them every step of the way helps to keep them accountable, and also sustains motivation throughout their journey to conception.”
Free 45 minute fertility consultation
If you and your partner would like to learn how to destress and increase fertility levels, Be Natural is offering a free 45 minute consultation with Marie. In this session, Marie will seek to understand the couple’s situation, and offer insights she’s gained through her 10 years of experience in working with infertile Singaporeans. Slots are limited and on a first come first serve basis; contact us here to schedule an appointment!
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