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How Does the Reproductive System Contribute to Mental Health?

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The human body is made up of several systems that work together to produce and sustain life. The function of the reproductive system is the survival of the species, and it’s driven by hormones in both men and women. A healthy body and healthy mind require balanced hormones. Many factors can have an impact on reproductive health, and hormone surges or imbalances can have an impact on mood and emotions. How does the reproductive system contribute to mental health?
The experts at the Center for Reproductive Health work with people to help them understand the role hormones can play in mental health and how the reproductive system and mental health are intertwined.

Hormonal Fluctuations in Women and Mood
From the time you hit puberty up until and including the time you go through menopause, hormone changes can wreak havoc with your emotions. Some of the hormone fluctuations women experience include:
Puberty. Not many of us can forget the intense emotions experienced during puberty while hormone surges were just beginning to affect our bodies.
Menstruation and PMS. During child-bearing years, the menstrual cycle brings with it rises and falls of estrogen, and for many women, it also brings tension, irritability, mood swings, and depression.
Pregnancy. Big changes in hormone levels during pregnancy can affect brain chemicals that affect mood known as neurotransmitters.
Post-partum period. More hormonal changes happen after a baby is born which can throw some women into a deep depression.
Perimenopause. During this phase, your egg production dwindles, which causes many women to feel emotional and irritable.
Menopause. Hormones that affect serotonin, the brain chemical that makes you feel happy, take a nosedive at this stage and can lead to feelings of sadness or anxiousness.
Throughout each of these phases in a woman’s life, overall health plays a role. Being proactive about lifestyle choices can help to balance your hormones and may make hormone-related mood swings less severe.

How Do Hormone Imbalances Happen?
When hormones are out of balance, it can affect brain chemistry and mood, which can worsen existing mental health conditions. Hormone imbalances don’t only happen to women. Shifts in testosterone levels can cause reduced muscle mass and declining libido in men.
Hormone dysregulation has a definite impact on mental health, but how do hormone imbalances happen? Poor eating habits or a sedentary lifestyle can lead to being either overweight or underweight, both of which can affect the balance of hormones in your reproductive system. Health problems such as thyroid problems and diabetes can also affect your reproductive system and your mental health. Both an underactive thyroid and an overactive thyroid can cause anxiety.
Unhealthy habits like smoking and heavy consumption of alcohol or caffeine can affect the delicate balance of hormones in the body. One of the worst causes of hormone imbalances in both men and women is chronic stress. Stress can trigger a hormone imbalance, and in return, a hormone imbalance can trigger mood swings, sleep disturbances, and more stress. Take charge of your reproductive health and overall health by working with the experts at the Center for Reproductive Health today.

See Dr. Mor’s Publications

Eliran Mor, MD

Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA
Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA Doctor Mor received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University-Sackler School of Medicine in Israel. He completed a four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Subsequently, Dr. Mor completed a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility […]
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FAQ

What does a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist do?

Reproductive endocrinology and Infertility is a sub-specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to managing medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility (REI) specialists undergo additional years of training to provide fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization.

Reproductive endocrinologists receive board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

When should I see an REI specialist?

In general, patients should consider consulting with an REI specialist after one year of trying unsuccessfully to achieve pregnancy. The chance of conceiving every month is around 20%, therefore after a full year of trying approximately 15% of couples will still not have achieved a pregnancy.

However, if a woman is over the age of 35 it would be reasonable to see a fertility specialist earlier, typically after 6 months of trying.

Other candidates to seek earlier treatment are women who have irregular menses, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), women who have had 2 or more miscarriages, or problems with the fallopian tubes (prior ectopic pregnancy).

What are the reasons we are having trouble conceiving?

Approximately 1/3 of the time cause for infertility is a female factor, 1/3 of the time a male factor, and the remaining 1/3 a couples’ factor.

At CCRH, we emphasize the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis. Both partners undergo a comprehensive evaluation including a medical history and physical exam.

Furthremore, the woman’s ovarian reserve is assessed with a pelvic ultrasound and a hormonal profile. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) will confirm fallopian tube patency and the uterine cavity is free of intracavitary lesions. A semen analysis is also obtained to evaluate for concentration, motility, and morphology of the sperm.

Additional work up is then individualized to direct the best possible treatment option for each couple.

What is IVF? What is the process like?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process that involves fertilization of an egg outside of a woman’s body.

The process starts with fertility drugs prescribed to help stimulate egg development. In your natural cycle, your body is only able to grow one dominant egg, but with stimulation medication we can recruit multiple eggs to continue to grow. After about 8-10 days of stimulation, the eggs are surgically retrieved and then fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. Fertilized eggs are then cultured under a strictly controlled environment within specialized incubators in the IVF laboratory for 3-5 days while they develop as embryos. Finally, embryos (or an embryo) are transferred into the uterine cavity for implantation.

Should I have IVF?

Before deciding if IVF is the right choice, it’s important to sit down with an REI specialist to discuss available treatment options. For some people, other methods such as fertility drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be the best first choice treatment. At CCRH, we believe each individual couple is unique and not everyone needs IVF.

Is the IVF procedure painful?

While not painful, the fertility medications may some side effects including headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and bloating. The injection sites may also bruise.

Will IVF guarantee a baby?

Unfortunately, no. Many people think once they start IVF it’s a matter of time that they will be pregnant and have a baby. But according to national statistics per the Society of Assisted Reproduction (SART), on average 40% of assisted reproduction cycles achieve live births in women under age 35. The chances of success then continue to decrease with advancing age.

At CCRH, we employ only evidence-based interventions to ensure patient safety and optimal outcome. While we cannot guarantee a baby, we guarantee that you will receive the best, most advanced, personalized care to help you maximize your chance of a baby.

What is the success rate for IVF?

The average IVF success rate (success measured in live birth rate) using one’s own eggs begins to drop around age 35 and then rapidly after age 40. This is due to the decline in egg quantity and egg quality as a woman ages.

Our clinic’s success rate consistently beats the national average year after year.

Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment? How much does IVF cost?

Individual insurance plans often do not have any coverage for infertility treatments. If you have a group plan, you can call members services to see if they have coverage for infertility (including consultation/workup and IVF).

After your consultation with our REI specialist, one of our dedicated account managers with sit with you to go over the cost of treatment.

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