January 2014

306 330

HEALTH&FITNESS
306 January14
Baby blues
Despite decades of international
research, the relationship between stress
and fertility is inconclusive. One thing is
certain: attempting but not succeeding
to become pregnant can be a big cause
of stress for many couples. Dr Kenneth
Wong is a consultant obstetrician and
gynaecologist at TheObgyn Centre. He
says stress may affect couples who are
frustrated by failed attempts to conceive
naturally and, where there is no concrete
cause for infertility, by the hurdles of
undergoing unassisted conception.
Dr Wong reports a rising incidence in
stress-related symptoms, especially with
the growing awareness of conception
techniques, both natural and artificial.
It’s accepted that couples should
continue to try for one to two years
before concluding that they may have a
problem with natural conception.
But, he says, morewomen are resorting
to artificially assisted reproduction to
escape the stress of timed conception,
even where a cause of infertility has not
been established.
“Ironically, suchunrealisticexpectations
and even the treatments themselves
often increase stress levels, which in turn
may compound the problem,” he says.
Some research has suggested that
pregnancy is more likely to occur
naturally during months when couples
are reportedly more relaxed. But the
issue is cloudy for the success of fertility
treatments, current evidence suggesting
Directory
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that the success of fertility treatments is
not affected by emotional distress.
“This is likely to be due to the fact that
for couples with an established cause of
infertility there is a high chance that a
medical fix can overcome the problem.
However, for couples with unexplained
infertility, some doctors still believe
that the effects of stress could be
significant,” says Dr Wong.
As for the impact on the female
reproductive system, some doctors
believe that hormones like epinephrine
and cortisol remain high during periods
of chronic stress, which could reduce
blood flow to the uterus. In contrast,
lower stress levels may increase blood
flow or enhance proteins in the womb
lining, which may facilitate implantation.
“In some studies, acupuncture has
been shown to enhance success rates
of IVF procedures, and some centres
are currently researching the effect of
massage therapy. My advice is to look at
your own schedule; find time for breaks
and relaxing activities which provide
respite from everyday life.”
Skin Deep
Dr KS Lim is a consultant dermatologist
a nd me d i c a l d i r e c t o r a t The
Dermatology Practice . He says the
most well known effects of stress on skin
are acne outbreaks, hair loss, hives and
eczema flare-ups.
“It’s known that stress can cause
a surge in hormones, weaken an
individual’s immune system and even
alter the hair-growth cycle,” says Dr Lim.
To combat acne outbreaks, he suggests
a balanced lifestyle with more sleep,
exercise and water; severe cases may
require a course of oral medication.
For hair loss, again a healthy diet is
recommended and special shampoos
and lotions which minimise hair loss
and stimulate hair re-growth can be
prescribed. In patients with eczema,
skin moisturisers and antihistamines are
prescribed to relieve the itching.
Lifestyle factors are important. While
it’s easy to tell patients to take it easy
and not to stress, that may be difficult
to do in our modern society. “Distraction
techniques for patients who tend to
scratch their skin incessantly, like using
a squeeze ball, can help. Our skins
are also improved by not smoking, not
drinking too much alcohol and eating a
better diet,” says Dr Lim.