High levels of stress may reduce a woman's chances of getting pregnant, according to research conducted at Ohio State University. The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, followed 401 healthy couples trying to conceive from 2005-2009.
The results showed that those couples who had the most difficulty in conception were those reporting the highest levels of stress.
"Women with higher levels of the stress biomarker had a two-fold increased risk of infertility," said study author Courtney Lynch.
"Alpha-amylase is an enzyme that is secreted into the mouth that helps the body start to digest carbohydrates," she added. "It is also linked to the fight-or-flight part of the stress system."
The team found that women with the highest levels of salivary alpha-amylase had a 29% reduction in their ability to conceive.
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