Researchers surveyed nearly 400 women aged 18-34 to understand how diet, stress, and mental health might affect fertility. They found that about 37% of the women in the study had trouble getting pregnant. The study showed that women who felt anxious or stressed were more likely to have fertility challenges. Interestingly, what women believed about their own weight mattered more than their actual diet. The findings suggest that doctors should check on women’s mental health and stress levels when helping them with fertility concerns, not just focus on physical health.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How a woman’s diet, stress level, anxiety, and depression might be connected to having trouble getting pregnant
  • Who participated: 398 women between ages 18-34 who were trying to have children. About 37% of them reported having infertility (not being able to get pregnant after trying for over a year)
  • Key finding: Women with moderate-to-severe anxiety were about twice as likely to have fertility problems. Women with high stress were also about twice as likely to struggle with getting pregnant. Surprisingly, what women thought about their weight mattered more than their actual eating habits
  • What it means for you: If you’re trying to get pregnant and experiencing anxiety or stress, talking to a doctor about managing these feelings may be helpful. This doesn’t mean stress causes infertility, but addressing mental health could be an important part of fertility care

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers collected information from women at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. Women completed a survey that asked about their eating habits, what they believed about their weight and diet, and their mental health (including stress, anxiety, and depression). The researchers also collected information about their age, medical history, and other background details.

The study defined infertility in two ways: either a woman had been told by a doctor she had infertility, or she had been trying to get pregnant for more than a year without success (and at least 18 months had passed since her last pregnancy). The researchers then used statistical tools to figure out which factors were most strongly connected to infertility.

This approach is useful because it lets researchers quickly gather information from many people and identify patterns. However, because it’s a snapshot in time rather than following people over years, we can’t be completely sure about cause-and-effect relationships. The study helps point out which areas doctors should pay attention to when helping women with fertility concerns.

The study included a reasonable number of participants (398 women) and used proper statistical methods to analyze the data. However, because women self-reported their information, there’s a possibility some answers might not be completely accurate. The study also only looked at women aged 18-34, so results might not apply to older women. Additionally, the study relied on women remembering and reporting their own health information, which can sometimes be unreliable.

What the Results Show

Among the 398 women surveyed, 149 (about 37%) met the definition of infertility. When researchers looked at which factors were most important, they found that moderate-to-severe anxiety was significantly linked to infertility—women with this level of anxiety were about twice as likely to have fertility problems compared to women without anxiety.

High perceived stress also showed a strong connection to infertility, with women reporting high stress being about 1.9 times more likely to have fertility challenges. Interestingly, depression did not show a significant connection to infertility in this study, even though anxiety and stress did.

Regarding diet, the belief of being overweight was significantly associated with infertility—women who thought they were overweight were about 2.6 times more likely to report fertility problems. However, other dietary factors like specific eating practices or following formal diets were not significantly connected to infertility in this analysis.

The study found that psychological beliefs about diet (what women thought about their weight and eating) appeared more important than actual dietary practices. This suggests that how women perceive their bodies and eating habits may influence fertility outcomes, possibly through stress and anxiety pathways. The researchers noted that anxiety and stress were independent predictors, meaning they each contributed separately to fertility challenges.

Previous research has suggested connections between stress, mental health, and fertility, but this study adds to that evidence by looking at both psychological health and dietary beliefs together. The finding that anxiety and stress matter more than specific diets aligns with growing research showing that mental health plays an important role in reproductive health. However, more research is needed to understand exactly how these factors work together.

This study has several important limitations to consider. First, it’s a snapshot study, so we can’t prove that stress and anxiety actually cause infertility—they might just be connected. Second, all information came from women’s own reports, which can be inaccurate. Third, the study only included women aged 18-34, so we don’t know if these findings apply to older women. Fourth, the study didn’t measure actual stress or anxiety with clinical tests—it relied on self-reported feelings. Finally, the study couldn’t account for all possible factors that might affect fertility, such as partner health or specific medical conditions.

The Bottom Line

If you’re trying to get pregnant and experiencing anxiety or high stress, consider talking to your doctor about stress management strategies (moderate confidence). These might include counseling, meditation, exercise, or other relaxation techniques. It’s also worth discussing your overall mental health with a healthcare provider as part of fertility evaluation (moderate confidence). However, managing stress alone won’t necessarily solve fertility problems—it should be part of a complete fertility evaluation with a doctor.

Women aged 18-34 who are trying to get pregnant, especially those experiencing anxiety or high stress, should pay attention to these findings. Healthcare providers helping women with fertility should also consider screening for anxiety and stress. However, these findings may not apply to women over 35 or to men’s fertility. This research doesn’t replace medical evaluation for infertility—it should complement it.

Managing stress and anxiety is an ongoing process, not a quick fix. Some women might notice improvements in mood and stress levels within weeks of starting stress management techniques, but fertility improvements may take longer. It typically takes several months of consistent stress management to see potential benefits. If you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s important to be patient and work with healthcare providers on a comprehensive plan.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily stress and anxiety levels on a 1-10 scale, along with mood and sleep quality. Note any major stressful events or anxiety triggers. Over time, this helps identify patterns and shows whether stress management techniques are working.
  • Use the app to set reminders for stress-reduction activities like 10-minute meditation sessions, breathing exercises, or short walks. Log which techniques help you feel calmer and make those your go-to strategies when stress rises.
  • Create a weekly summary view showing average stress and anxiety levels. Track correlation between stress management activities and your overall wellbeing. Share trends with your healthcare provider during fertility consultations to discuss what’s working and what needs adjustment.

This research suggests associations between stress, anxiety, and fertility challenges, but does not prove cause-and-effect relationships. This information is educational and should not replace professional medical advice. If you’re trying to get pregnant or have concerns about fertility, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider or fertility specialist. Infertility has many causes, and a comprehensive medical evaluation is important. Managing stress and anxiety may be helpful as part of overall fertility care, but is not a substitute for medical treatment.