"Just relax"

There is hardly any one comment that makes trying-to-be parents as crazy as the above statement. It seems to say that there is a "blame" to lay on someone, and you are the intended target, since you are so incapable of handling your stress, you are being punished by not having a child. Well, at least this is how I took it! Speaking to others, I don't think that I was alone in this reaction.

I came across an article from the 2005 issue of Health magazine titled, "Stress and Your Fertility" by Susan Dominus. Needless to say, I was curious.

The article deals with interrupted menstrual cycles which could bring on infertility in women who have waited to have children. Dr. Sarah Berga from Emory University believes that the connection between these types of cycles caused by thyroid problems, which are regularly treated with Clomid, could also benefit from therapy as a non-invasive approach. Therapy could also help the resulting pregnancy as well since there is also a relationship between baby IQ and thyroid issues.

Offering up other relaxation techniques besides traditional therapy are other types such as "guided imagery, meditation, yoga, or some sort of creative outlet". This quote was given by Ali Comar, PhD, director of the Mind/Body Center for Women's Health at Boston IVF and assistant professor at Harvard Medical. (Whew! That doc is busy!!)

Lastly the article brings up that regardless of the pregnancy outcome for relaxation therapy, there are still benefits in pursuing them as an individual and as a couple. Trying to get pregnant can be very stressful on the relationship and on each person involved. Relaxation therapy can help to make sure that this stressful time doesn't cause havok as the couple goes through it. And the sanity of the individual is kept intact.

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