Dutch researchers of Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center of Netherlands had found association between stress factors to the outcomes of reproductive processes of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
The women entering their first cycle after IVF or ICSI treatment were asked to participate for the studies. Nocturnal urine samples were collected prior to treatment, before egg retrieval and before embryo transfer. The results were to show hormonal concentrations of the participants. Self-interrogatory questionnaire were also given to these ladies before the start of the treatment in order to find out about whether they are suffering from anxiety and depression.There seemed to be a significant relationship between adrenalin level, depression and the rate of success of embryo transfer. For successful completion of embryo transfer leading to full time pregnancy is related to low levels of adrenalin hormone that is inversely related to stress. For cases where adrenalin levels were high, rates of embryo transfer leading to full term pregnancy were very low.
The inverse relationship of the hormone adrenalin (which is released under stressful conditions) to successful IVF process shows that it is important for women to remain calm and happy to receive the embryo transfer in order to have a full term pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Reference: Journal Human Reproduction, April 2005
