Stress is something that you, and everyone else in this world go through on a regular basis. However, if you go for its scientific definition, stress is the emotion or physical tension that we feel, which often manifests as rage, frustration, and anxiety.1 Moreover, stress can also be described as the body's response to overwhelming or under-pressure situations.2
Mild stress for a brief period of time, such as the kind we experience when working towards a deadline, is thought to be beneficial for us and helps keep us motivated.3 However, a person may experience both physical and emotional symptoms if they undergo long-lasting or persistent stress episodes. Although many people frequently experience chronic (long-term) stress, they may ignore some obvious signs and symptoms.3
It’s recommend to seek medical attention if you’re experiencing any of the listed below symptoms or signs on a regular basis-3,4
- Body aches
- Chest aches or pacing heart sensation
- Dizziness
- Exhaustion
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Irregular menstruation
- Lowered sexual drive
- Muscle tension or jaw clenching
- Weight related issues or obesity
- Stomach or digestive issues
- Skin issues such as eczema and acne
- Weakened immune system
However, if an individual has any chronic health condition, stress can worsen it. Additionally, stress has a negative impact on a person's fertility. But before learning about it in detail, let’s discuss “what does your body go through under stress?” it in the next section.
What Happens To Your Body Under Stress?
From the brain to the body, the human body is controlled by a sophisticated neurological system. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is the component of the nervous system that responds to stress. As a result, anytime your body experiences stress, the SNS must display the fight or flight response. This is where the body chooses to use its energy to either stay put and battle the problem or to just flee from it.5,6,7
During stressful scenarios, the SNS signals the adrenal glands via adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). After which, cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands. Apart from synthesising the so-called "stress hormone," cortisol, and adrenaline, the adrenal glands also help in regulating the blood pressure, immune system, and metabolism.5,8
The release of adrenaline and cortisol is something that specifically causes stress-related symptoms. These hormones increase breathing rate and heartbeat as well as dilate the blood vessels (when the blood vessels in the body widen, causing a peak in blood flow) in the legs and arms. In addition, these hormones give rise to changes in the digestive system and an increase in blood sugar (glucose) levels.5
How Can Stress Affect Fertility?
Uptill now, we’ve talked about what stress is and how it can impact the human body. Under this section, we’ll discuss how stress affects fertility in women. If you're thinking about starting a family or trying to conceive, you've probably heard that stress is bad for you. That is entirely correct. When planning for a baby, it is important to prevent stress.
Following are some of the specific effects of stress that can arise during different stages of reproductive health in women-
1. Effects Of Stress On Menstrual Cycle
Stress-induced irregular periods are a prevalent concern among women of reproductive age.9 Irregular periods or persistent anovulation (when the ovary does not release an egg after menstruation) have been linked to decreased fertility in women.10 Additionally, stress often causes hormonal imbalances, which can be a primary factor in female infertility. Moreover, hormone imbalances can also lead to conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and anovulation in women.11
2. Effects Of Stress On Implantation
After the egg has been fertilized, the process of implanting begins. Egg fertilization is the fusion of an egg (from the ovaries) with sperm. This fertilization produces a mass of cells that must enter the uterus. Once inside the uterus, it attaches itself to the uterine wall or endometrium.12 If implantation fails, the risk of losing the pregnancy increases.13
- According to one study, psychological stress can cause infertility in many women. The same research reveals a relationship between stressors (things or situations that cause strain or tension) and lower reproductive hormone levels.13
- Another study revealed that stress has a direct effect on endometrial (the inner lining of the uterus) functioning in women, which may impair fertility.14 This study further says that stressors not only alter female hormones but also impacts the balance of the endometrial environment.14
- In conclusion, if a woman experiences prolonged stress, she may develop endometrial ( endometrium is the tissue which lines the uterus) dysfunction that increases the risk of infertility.14
3. Effects Of Stress On Pregnancy
Many couples seek the assistance of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) in order to fulfill their reproductive goals. ART is a technique used to help couples (or individuals with infertility) conceive by collecting eggs from the ovaries and sperm (from the respective partner or donor) to create an embryo in vitro (process wherein the egg and sperm are fertilized in lab). Moreover, once the embryo reaches a certain developmental stage, it’s planted in the mother's womb.15
The most popular and efficient kind of ART is IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).15 We shall now examine how stress affects ART outcomes-
- Studies show that women experiencing high levels of stress, before and during ART treatments, have higher risk of unsuccessful pregnancies.16 Couples undergoing IVF frequently experience anxiety and stress, which is a fact. However, expectant parents frequently experience anxiety or feel "under stress" as a result of their anticipation of IVF treatment outcomes.17
- Stress is known to trigger many factors. One such is the increased α- amylase levels (enzyme that breaks glycogen and starch into shorter chains & also a biomarker for stress). In a study, it was found that pregnant women who had the highest rate of α- amylase, were likely to experience infertility due to increased stress levels.16
Furthermore, significant cortisol (stress hormone) levels were retrieved from the hair of same women (those who were examined for α-amylase), demonstrating an even greater link between stress and infertility.16
The most stressful phase for parents receiving ART assistance may be the 2-week waiting period (when the embryo is transferred to the mother till the pregnancy test). However, it becomes even more imperative for couples undergoing this procedure to have a stress free living environment.16
In many cases, people who used self-administered coping techniques and relaxation routines reported better quality of life and decreased anxiety.16
In the final section of this blog, we will talk about different ways couples can manage stress.
Coping With Your Stress
One may experience stress even while engaging in routine daily tasks. It is, therefore, more crucial for you to recognise your stressors ( activities or external factors that can induce stress). Nevertheless, no matter what your stressors may be, implementing the suggestions given below may help you manage your stress-18
- Being active, doing exercise or yoga
- Practicing meditation and relaxation techniques like breathing exercises
- Spending time with friends, family or close ones
- Listening to music, or reading a book
- Working on a hobby
However, if even after following the above-mentioned tips, high stress levels persist, then it is strongly advised that you seek professional assistance.
We understand that starting a family can be an emotional rollercoaster for some people, which is entirely natural. If you are a couple who is trying to conceive or undergoing ART or IVF, it is recommended that you seek assistance or communicate your feelings with your loved ones. As doing so can minimize the stress, increasing the odds. However, it must be noted that stress is not the sole factor that should be considered, but having a “stress-free” self, helps!
Before getting on your pregnancy journey, you can also take a “fertility test,” or “hormone test,” which will allow you to learn about your reproductive health.19 These tests are easy-to-do and could be done from the comfort of your home. LifeCell also offers one such at-home OvaScore-hormone test kit. This test checks for 9 female reproductive hormones such as AMH, estradiol, LH, FSH, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, total testosterone, free thyroxine, and prolactin. When you take an OvaScore test, it helps you in getting a better picture of your fertility status; that could potentially aid you in achieving your best reproductive health!
Final Note!
Being someone who’s about to embark on the motherhood journey may give you anxiety and stress, which may or may not affect fertility. But if it does, it's best for you to take preventative and proactive steps to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Additionally, taking simple yet imperative steps like scheduling a doctor's appointment and monitoring your reproductive health (with the help of Ovascore) could immensely aid you on the path to parenthood!
So ladies, order the OvaScore test today & get your reproductive health in a better shape!
FAQs
LifeCell is India's leading & most trusted stem cell bank & diagnostics service provider? ›
LifeCell is India's first and largest stem cell bank. Lifecell was established in 2004, LifeCell is India's first and largest stem cell bank, enjoying the trust of over 3,50,000+ parents who have banked their children's stem cells with the company.
Is LifeCell stem cell legit? ›LifeCell is India's first and largest stem cell bank. Lifecell was established in 2004, LifeCell is India's first and largest stem cell bank, enjoying the trust of over 3,50,000+ parents who have banked their children's stem cells with the company.
Which is the No 1 stem cell bank in India? ›LifeCell International Pvt.
Established in 2004, LifeCell International is India's premier community stem cell bank.
- LifeCell International Pvt Ltd. ...
- CordLife. ...
- CryoViva Biotech Pvt Ltd. ...
- Reliance Life Sciences. ...
- Ree Laboratories Pvt. ...
- Regenerative Medical Services Pvt. ...
- Stemplus. ...
- Stemcyte India Therapeutics Pvt.
LifeCell offers multiple pricing options such as annual storage plan at ₹22,490* (charged every year towards renewal), 21 Year storage plan at ₹22,490 + ₹34,000* and 75 Years storage plan at ₹22,490 + ₹51,000*. EMI Plans starts from Rs. 3,330 to make your journey of stem cell banking easy and affordable.
Is LifeCell skin FDA approved? ›A: No, LifeCell is not considered a prescription medication by the FDA and is therefore not regulated by their guidelines.
Is it worth to pay for stem cells? ›Stem cells have been more widely used as part of regenerative medicine. As such, stem cell therapy is a successful treatment that offers many benefits that make it worth the price. Stem cell therapy is a non-surgical, non-opioid treatment method with a reduced risk of complications compared to surgery.
Is storing stem cells worth it in India? ›The simple answer is No.
Stem cell preservation is not necessary in India. But it is worth preserving stem cells because of their clinical and research applications and future use to treat a wide range of diseases. Researchers say that stem cells can be used to save a life.
In short, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association recommend against storing cord blood as a form of "biological insurance," because the benefits are too remote to justify the costs.
Which country is most advanced for stem cells? ›India is among the most popular medical tourism destinations in the world. India is the early adopter of medical advancements. They have the best stem cell specialists. The cost of stem therapy is significantly lower when compared with other countries.
Which stem cell company is best? ›
- Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) ...
- Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) ...
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) ...
- Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) ...
- BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) ...
- BeiGene (NASDAQ:BGNE) ...
- BioMarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:BMRN) Company Profile. ...
- CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) Company Profile.
Countries like Japan and Singapore are both seen as leaders in stem cell therapies and, though they might not have the outputs of China – are internationally recognized for the work they continue to do in the field.
Which diseases are cured by stem cells? ›People who might benefit from stem cell therapies include those with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer and osteoarthritis.
Is stem cell banking legal in India? ›Is umbilical cord blood (UCB) banking service covered under any guidelines/norms in the country? Umbilical Cord Blood banks (UCB) are permitted only under license and monitoring by the Central Drug Standards Controlling Organization (CDSCO).
How does LifeCell work? ›LifeCell uses premier cord blood processing technology - PrepaCyte-CB®. This technology allows extraction of a maximum number of stem cells and provides superior red blood cell depletion over all other methods.
Who acquired LifeCell? ›Bio-pharmaceutical company Allergan has completed the previously announced acquisition of US-based Acelity's regenerative medicine unit LifeCell for approximately $2.9bn.
Who founded LifeCell? ›Stop use and ask a doctor if: Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, faintness, or dizziness occurs Sudden, unexplained weight gain occurs Your hands or feet swell Scalp irritation or redness occurs Unwanted facial hair growth occurs You do not see hair regrowth in 4 months May be harmful if used when pregnant or breast-feeding.
Is stem cell therapy legal in the US? ›While the FDA has issued guidance concerning the use of stem cells in clinical trials, it has not approved any stem cell products for general use. This means stem cell treatments cannot legally be marketed or sold to the general public, although some clinics may still offer them.
What are the disadvantages of stem cell therapy? ›- Low blood cell counts. You will have low blood cells counts after a stem cell transplant. ...
- Infection. ...
- Bleeding. ...
- Anemia. ...
- Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) ...
- Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) ...
- Digestive system problems. ...
- Skin and hair problems.
Is stem cell covered by Medicare? ›
Medicare covers stem cell therapy for FDA-approved treatments, which are typically for hematopoietic stem cell transplants. These are stem cell therapies that promote the growth of healthy blood cells. These therapies are sometimes used to treat certain cancers, including: lymphomas.
What is the biggest disadvantage of using stem cells? ›A drawback of most adult stem cells is that they are per-specialized, for example, blood stem cells make only blood and brain stem cells make only brain cells. These are derived from embryos that are not a patient's own and the patient's body might reject them.
What is the average cost of stem cell therapy in India? ›Depending on the treatment, the stem cell transplant cost in India can range between INR 15 to INR 25 lakh in India. However, the cost of stem cell transplant in India may vary considerably depending on many factors including the kind of transplant done – allogeneic or autologous transplant.
Is it better to use your own stem cells? ›Using cells from your own body during your stem cell transplant offers some advantages over stem cells from a donor. For example, you don't need to worry about incompatibility between the donor's cells and your own cells if you have an autologous stem cell transplant.
How do I choose a stem cell bank? ›- Experience. The number of cord blood units that a bank has released for transplant speaks volumes about their success in being able to deliver viable stem cells when it matters. ...
- Stability: ...
- Inventory: ...
- Insurance: ...
- Shipment: ...
- Accreditation: ...
- Pricing:
Physician organizations don't typically recommend storing cord blood as a standard. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doesn't recommend that parents routinely store their infants' umbilical cord blood for future use — unless there's an immediate medical need for that blood to be used for a sibling.
How long should you keep stem cells? ›However, researchers have found that cord blood stored for over 10 years does not show any significant deterioration, and stem cells can last for decades in storage. A private cord bank stores stem cells safely for later use if a family ever needs them for medical treatment.
Why is the US against stem cells? ›Opponents argue that the research is unethical, because deriving the stem cells destroys the blastocyst, an unimplanted human embryo at the sixth to eighth day of development. As Bush declared when he vetoed last year's stem cell bill, the federal government should not support “the taking of innocent human life.”
Why are stem cells banned in us? ›In 2001, President George W. Bush banned federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, citing that the use of these embryos, which would otherwise be discarded or would deteriorate in long-term storage, diminishes the value of human life.
Where does America rank in stem? ›National Science Board's Elementary and Secondary STEM Education?report, the U.S. is behind many global competitors,? ranking 25th out of a list of 37? countries in mathematics literacy and seventh out of 37 countries in science.
Which hospital is best for stem cell transplant in USA? ›
Mayo Clinic's bone marrow (stem cell) transplant team is recognized internationally for its expertise in comprehensive specialty treatment for people with blood and bone marrow diseases.
Who makes the best stem cell donor? ›Donating stem cells or bone marrow to a relative
A brother or sister is most likely to be a match. There is a 1 in 4 chance of your cells matching. This is called a matched related donor (MRD) transplant. Anyone else in the family is unlikely to match.
“Stem cell products are regulated by FDA, and, generally, all stem cell products require FDA approval. Currently, the only stem cell products that are FDA-approved for use in the United States consist of blood-forming stem cells (also known as hematopoietic progenitor cells) that are derived from umbilical cord blood.
What is the #1 source for stem cells? ›There are four main sources of stem cells, i.e. embryonic tissues, fetal tissues, adult tissues and differentiated somatic cells after they have been genetically reprogrammed, which are referred to as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Is stem cell therapy legitimate? ›Over the past three decades, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several stem cell-based products. These include bone marrow transplants, which have been transformational for many cancer patients, and therapies for blood and immune system disorders.
What is the rating of LifeCell? ›LifeCell International has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 230 reviews left anonymously by employees.
Which country is the best for stem cell treatment? ›Countries like Japan and Singapore are both seen as leaders in stem cell therapies and, though they might not have the outputs of China – are internationally recognized for the work they continue to do in the field.
What is the best stem cell hospital in the world? ›- GIOSTAR. The Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research (GIOSTAR) provides adult stem cells for autologous and allogeneic stem cell therapy, based on research by Dr. ...
- Stem Cell Institute (Panama) Founded by Dr. ...
- Regenexx. ...
- DVC Stem. ...
- Okyanos. ...
- Celltex.
- Low blood cell counts. You will have low blood cells counts after a stem cell transplant. ...
- Infection. ...
- Bleeding. ...
- Anemia. ...
- Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) ...
- Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) ...
- Digestive system problems. ...
- Skin and hair problems.
- Anemias (Aplastic Anemia, Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria and Fanconi Anemia)
- Blood disorders or inherited red cell abnormalities (Blackfan-Diamond Anemia, Beta Thalassemia Major, Pure Red Cell Aplasia and Sickle Cell Disease)
Can you get stem cell injections in the US? ›
While the FDA has issued guidance concerning the use of stem cells in clinical trials, it has not approved any stem cell products for general use. This means stem cell treatments cannot legally be marketed or sold to the general public, although some clinics may still offer them.
Should we go for stem cell banking in India? ›Stem cell preservation helps you in treating life-threatening diseases if you come in contact with future treatments related to cancer, blood, and bone-related diseases. Preserving your stem cell now can protect your future as it is very difficult to match with other stem cell owners.
Who is LifeCell owned by? ›lifecell is Ukrainian mobile operator with 100% of shares owned by the international leading company Turkcell.
Who is the competitor of LifeCell? ›lifecell's competitors include CenturyLink, Starry, Sky, Xplornet.
Which celebrities are on LifeCell? ›With Sanjay Dutt signing up for this service, LifeCell has expanded its celebrity clientele portfolio with Bollywood actors like Hrithik Roshan, Raveena Tandon, Madhavan and many others having preserved their child's stem cells with LifeCell.