Finding out that you are going to have a baby can come as the most exciting, relieving news, especially when a couple has been trying for months, even years, for success. There are many reasons why becoming pregnant isn’t always easy, but one of the most common reasons is lack of sleep. Why are women with insomnia more likely to experience infertility than those who sleep like babies? The following may shed some light:
Lack of Sleep Causes Anxiety and Depression
Lack of sleep has so many negative outcomes, to include anxiety and depression. It can also affect our sex drive. Focusing on getting pregnant can result in disappointment as you move the hours back on one’s biological clock. Of course, this creates a never-ending cycle starting with enthusiasm and hope and ending in stress and anxiety.
Anticipation will Make You Wait
Those who are successful getting pregnant often tell stories of how they were not focused on, or trying to get pregnant. “It just happened,” or “we didn’t plan this,” are common sentiments. Perseverating on getting pregnant by entertaining those thoughts all night instead of sleeping can result in disappointment.
The Immune System
Sleep deprivation may trigger inflammatory responses that can affect the immune system. One unexplained phenomenon is that when the immune system is compromised and inflammation occurs, your body produces interleukin-6, and studies have shown that women who claim to be infertile have higher levels of IL-6 than that of women who are more fertile.
A Natural Contraceptive
Melatonin is a very popular supplement that assists us in getting to sleep. Many people who opt out of strong prescription sleep aids such as Ambien welcome the holistic properties of Melatonin. However, if you are trying to get pregnant, stick to herbal tea before bed. That’s because Melatonin has been singled out as having the same potential contraceptive properties as oral contraceptives; and studies show that women taking oral contraceptives actually have increased levels of Melatonin in their bodies.
Anxiety and Stress
It appears that everyone is anxious and stressed these days. But not everyone is trying to get pregnant, either. Our bodies are conditioned to go into flight or fight mode if we feel anxious or stressed. This impacts our sleeping habits which in turn impacts our fertility levels. The key is to keep worries at bay, but that is oftentimes easier said than done.
Let’s face it. It’s easier to do anything with a good night’s sleep. If you think that your insomnia is having an effect on your getting pregnant, you might want to re-evaluate some of your behaviors. Do you have apnea? Are you drinking too much caffeine? Are you super stressed thinking about trying to get pregnant as well as working and taking care of loved ones? The bottom line is this: sleep makes everything better. If you are trying to get pregnant but think that your insomnia is the biggest obstacle for making that happen, please consider reaching out to the kind and caring experts at Ironwood Urology. They will help you determine which medical conditions or lifestyle factors may be preventing you from expanding your family. To learn more, call Dr. Desi Avila at (480) 961-2323, or request an appointment online.
