Recent scientific studies show a link between higher stress-levels and greater infertility rates; as well the potential for meditation to reduce stress-levels.     

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It is widely known that meditation lowers the level of the stress hormone, cortisol, in the body.  A Huffington Post article states, "a new study in the journal Health Psychology shows an association between increased mindfulness and decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol."  Click here to read the article.  

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The reason that increased cortisol levels can adversely effect fertility stems from our pre-historic ancestors.  The stress in life back then was much more evident than the dangers of today.  If a saber tooth tiger is chasing you, the cortisol released by that danger directs the body to decrease the blood flow into the central organs to redirect that force into the legs to run or the arms to fight. The body's main focus in that scenario is survival, so the cortisol triggers the body to shut down the digestive system first (because you don't need to digest your last meal if you might be a tiger's next meal), and the reproductive system next (because you can't procreate the next generation if you don't survive this moment).

A study published in Fertility and Sterility entitled, "Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility: Efficacy Study," showed that, "women who attended a 10-weed Mindfulness Based Program for Infertility revealed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, internal and external shame, entrapment, and defeat. Inversely, they presented statistically significant improvement in mindfulness skills and self-efficacy to deal with infertility." Read the PubMed.gov abstract here.

According to study entitled "Preconception stress increases the risk of infertility," that was published in the journal of Human Reproduction states, "women who had high levels of a biomarker for stress in their saliva took 29 percent longer to become pregnant, compared to those with lower levels, Those with high levels of the stress indicator were also twice as likely as others to meet the clinical definition for infertility."  The abstract for this study can be found here, in the Human Reproduction section of the Oxford Journal.

To research additional benefits of meditation, please read the article published by the Mayo Clinic entitled, "Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress," which can be found here.

According to Charles L. Raison, MD, clinical director of the Mind-Body Program at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, the common elements of different forms of meditation are "a narrowing of focus that shuts out the external world and usually a stilling of the body."  Read this Web MD Article: "Meditation Heals Body and Mind" here.

Both forms of meditation that I teach - Guided Visualization & Qigong Meditation - provide "a narrowing of focus that shuts out the external world and a stilling of the body."  Both practices give your mind something to actively focus upon.  This makes it MUCH easier to do than other meditation practices -such as watching the breath - that don't give your mind anything to do besides churn out random thoughts.  To learn more about the forms of meditation that I can teach you, please click here.