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			Concern Treatment Pregnancy Experiences Concern Evaluating Your Fertility Understanding Fertility Maximise Your Fertility Your Timing Diet Relaxation Exercise Sexual Positions Infertility: An Introduction Infertility in Females Infertility in Males Implications of Infertility Questions to Ask Your Doctor		Relaxation Take a deep breath – and chill out   “Just relax!” How often have you heard that? Chances are, the well-meaning person who offered that advice wasn't struggling with fertility issues.  But truth be told, relaxation is important to your health - and it might even help you conceive. Some women even claim they became pregnant only after learning to relax.  Unfortunately, there’s no hard evidence that relaxation leads to conception; nevertheless, learning how to relax can help you better cope with the stress and anxiety you may feel about fertility. It'll help you gain a healthy perspective and reduce the tension in your life. Here are some ideas to get you started: Take a yoga or tai chi class. Consider meditation; you can learn the basics from a book or your spiritual advisor. Try progressive muscle relaxation; to do this, you progressively tighten a muscle, then relax it. You can start at your toes and work up, or at your head and work down. Ask your healthcare provider about specific relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or creative visualization.      Yes, it may seem a little paradoxical. You may have to put some effort into learning to relax! But it’s worth it – and so are the results. Stress & fertility Stressed out? Don’t stress out about it – you’re normal! Yep, this is another one that those bar room sages offer with alarming regularity.  However, if you are feeling stressed - you're not alone. Research suggests some women undergoing fertility treatment have higher stress levels than those facing cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Now here’s the good news: Infertility causes stress, but the reverse probably isn’t true.  Stress can affect ovulation and, of course, libido, and stress hormones do affect the hypothalamus, the gland that produces sex hormones. But there’s not much evidence that stress causes infertility, except in rare cases. Still, it’s crucial to keep your stress in check. It can rob your body of nutrients, weaken your immune system, cause stomach problems and lead to depression and anxiety. That’s not what you need while you’re trying to conceive! There are various strategies for managing stress – we’ve included some in the pop-up below. But if it becomes overwhelming, you may want to talk to a counsellor – especially one who works with women trying to conceive. How can you tell if you need counselling? If your relationships are strained, if you think about fertility issues constantly, or if you’ve felt depressed for more than a couple of weeks, a counsellor may be able to help. Your healthcare provider may be able to recommend someone. You can go alone or with your partner. You have nothing to lose but your stress! Stress & sleep Stress-busters
			© 2003-2008 Merck Serono S.A. Please read our Legal Statement. US residents should consult the Serono, Inc. fertility website at www.fertilitylifelines.com Last updated: 14/05/2008