Woman suffering from depression, stress and anxiety are twice as likely to have problems conceiving. In one study 60% of women who were treated for depression got pregnant within a 6 month period, as opposed to only 24% of untreated women (Nicholas, M ‘3 Steps to Fertility’ pg49)

A study in Germany showed that men on death row found that they all had a very low sperm count. (Domar, A ‘Conquering Infertility: A mind body guide to enhancing fertility and coping with Infertility’ pg 30)

Another study showed that women who had experienced at least one unsuccessful IVF cycle and who had depressive symptoms before continuing IVF treatment experienced a 13% subsequent pregnancy rate, in contrast to a 29% pregnancy rate in women who did not experience depressive symptoms before their IVF cycle. (Domar, A ‘Conquering Infertility: A mind body guide to enhancing fertility and coping with Infertility’ pg 24)

In a tribe under threat from another tribe or marauding wild animals, the females would fail to ovulate during this time, similarly if there were a feminine that too would be a bad time to bring a child into the world. - Peter Bowen-Simpkins, M.D Clinical Director, Cromwell IVF Fertility Centre. Introduction: Shape UK March 2001

A Recent study at Harvard Medical School measured what happened when women who were having difficulty conceiving were given group CBT. They were taught how to identify recurrent negative thought patterns and how to separate truth from fear. 55% of the women who participated had a baby. Compared to 20% who received no treatment. (Nicholas, M. ‘3 Steps to Fertility’ pp 113)

One study showed that in woman without any anatomical reason for infertility, the majority showed severe psychological conflict regarding the wish for parenthood. (Therese Benedek eet al. ‘Some emotional factors in Infertility’ Psychosomatic Medicine Vol 15, no 5. (1953) pp 485-98. Jeker et al ‘Wish for a child and infertility’ International Journal of Fertility, vol 33, no. 6, (1988) pp 411-20)

The use of hypnosis during embryo transfer doubles the IVF/ET outcome in terms of increased implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Furthermore it seems the patients attitude to treatment was more favourable. (‘Impact of hypnosis during embryo transer on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a case-control study.’ Fertility and Sterility Journal. May 2006; 8 (5):14040-8)