Trying to get pregnant? Stress less, study advises

If you're struggling to conceive, stress could be to blame.

According to a new study published online in the journal Human Reproduction, stressed-out women take longer to conceive than women with low stress levels.

The study followed 401 American couples over the course of a year with no history of infertility and had just started trying to conceive. Women with higher levels of alpha-amylase, an enzyme that indicates stress, were 29 per cent less likely to conceive than the women with notably lower levels.

Cortisol levels did not appear to affect fertility.

"We showed that women who had the highest levels of alpha-amylase were more than twice as likely to not become pregnant after 12 months as women who had the lowest amounts," says study author Courtney Lynch, a reproductive epidemiologist at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Another interesting finding: the effects of stress didn't show up until couples had been trying to get pregnant for at least five months. Up until then, the women with high alpha-amylase levels had similar odds of getting pregnant as those with lower levels. After five months, however, their odds lowered.

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"The study's key finding is an apparent association between preconception stress and the probability of getting pregnant," Lynch tells LiveScience.

"This study indicates that if a couple has not gotten pregnant after five to six months of trying, it may be stress-related," Lynch adds.

Of the 401 couples who took part in the study, 347 of them became pregnant.

Lynch encourages stress-reduction techniques like yoga, meditation and breathing exercises to help boost fertility.

Lynch emphasizes that in the big picture of fertility, stress "is a minor issue," compared to other affecting factors like blocked tubes, ovarian problems, smoking or age.

"Reducing stress won't help if your husband has a low sperm count," she tells TODAY.

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Still, it probably won't hurt to embrace a few relaxation techniques when trying to conceive.

"Stress is not helping you. Whatever you can do to lower that…not only can potentially help you get pregnant faster, but if you start your pregnancy healthier, you'll be a healthier pregnant woman, a healthier post-partum mother," Lynch tells FOX News. "[Lowering stress] ensures people have as healthy and as productive a life as they're able to have."

If you're looking to reduce stress and boost your fertility naturally, here are a few easy things to start trying:

Get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. More or less could hurt your chances of getting pregnant.

Try these yoga moves, designed to boost fertility. (Overdoing the workouts can put too much stress on the body and actually hurt your chances at conceiving. Go easy.)

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Indulge in the things that relax you: listen to music, write in a journal, take a bath, or spend time with good friends. One study suggested that just holding hands with your significant other can drop stress levels dramatically.

Get a massage. Try acupuncture. Try meditation. Arc Fertility offers some exercises here. Or practice deep breathing. Parenting.com offers some "breathing lessons."

Consider taking herbs that help with stress, but always consult with a doctor or naturopath first.

And eat well. Ditch the alcohol, trans fats and excessive caffeine. Get your folate. And say yes to the odd scoop of ice cream. (And maybe yogurt, too?)

What's your preferred method of stress-reduction?