In today's world stress is pretty unavoidable. A little stress here and there could be helpful because it motivates us to do things that sometimes we don't want to do but we have to do. If stress becomes an everyday thing, well then it gets chronic, and that's where things get bad because it then can take a toll on many body systems, just like the reproductive system.
When our body perceives a threat, whether it's physical, emotional, or psychological, it then activates the stress response system, known as our hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This triggers the release of cortisol and other stress hormones, and in short bursts cortisol helps the body cope. If our cortisol levels stay high for weeks or even longer, then the stress response will interfere with other hormone systems, just like the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which is what regulates reproduction.
To much cortisol can defeat the release of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. This reduces the secretion of LH, also known as luteinizing hormone, and also follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) from the pituitary gland. Which then leads to the ovaries and testes producing less estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Which can cause irregular or missed menstrual cycles, delayed or absent ovulation, reduced sperm count and motility, decreased libido and sexual dysfunction, and fertility challenges in both men and women.
The body acts this way because it sees chronic stress as a sign that the conditions aren't safe for reproduction. The energy and resources lean towards survival rather than reproduction, which is why high stress levels can temporarily shut down reproductive functions. Even if there’s no physical threat, psychological or psychosocial stress like relationship problems, grief, financial strain, or chronic anxiety can trigger the same hormonal cascade. Over time, this constant activation of the stress response system can impair not just fertility but overall reproductive health.
As we have been practicing in our physiology lab though things like mindfulness and meditation, physical activity, good sleep, therapy or counseling, and building strong social support systems can help reverse the effects above and lower your stress to restore that hormonal balance.
Hi Chloe ! This was an insightful post and I really like how you explain the HPA axis and how that is our stress response system which triggers the release of cortisol and other stress hormones. And also the HPG axis and how that regulates reproduction which will be interfered from the stress response. It helps picture why prolonged cortisol elevation can interfere with reproductive hormones like GnRH, LH, FSH. I like how you mentioned psychological and psychosocial stressors since we usually underestimate how emotional stress can have a biological impact. It’s good to know that meditation and mindfulness and many other things can help reverse the effects and lower stress.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your post bringing to light just how much stress (chronic at that) can cause reproductive issues for both males and females and how that stress can impact things like pregnancy and fertility. I think an important concept to mention too is how stress during pregnancy can impact fetal development (particularly their brain and nervous system), which can hopefully push more young mothers to try and limit their stress; if not for their sake, than for the sake of their child (Valsamakis et. al., 2019).
ReplyDeleteValsamakis, G., Chrousos, G., & Mastorakos, G. (2019). Stress, female reproduction and pregnancy. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 100, 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.09.031.