Stress can have a profound effect on sexual performance, fertility, conception and all other aspects of reproduction. Ask any man who has had to produce a semen sample in a doctor's surgery what stress does for sexual performance! But stress also affects the physiological processes necessary for fertilization to occur. If a stress response is too severe, its effect on the pituitary can inhibit the process whereby sperm are added to the seminal flow, and the prospective father may have little or no sperm in his semen.

The stressed female partner may experience chemical alterations in the uterine and vaginal secretions, preventing the release of enzymes that allow the sperm to break through the egg's two outer coatings, so the sperm literally bangs its head against a brick wall.

If there are sufficient motile sperm, and fertilization takes place successfully, another stress hazard lies in wait. The fertilized egg needs to be transported down the Fallopian tube to its implantation site in the uterus. This transport is achieved by the action of the cilia (hair‑like projections) that line the tubes, and by the rhythmic contractions of the tubes. This process, which normally takes about a week to complete, can be severely disrupted by stress.

Sexual activity is an excellent stress reducer, so your conception attempt may have its own built‑in remedy, but you may be feeling especially tense if conception has been difficult to achieve, and for sub-fertile or infertile couples, stress can become an intractable problem.

There are many ways to reduce stress, just as there are lots of things you can do to improve your own fertility (see Healthy Parents = Healthy Baby). Simply making sure that the woman has an orgasm gives you a better chance of conceiving. Orgasm increases the blood-flow to the reproductive organs helping them to function better. The contractions that accompany the female orgasm help carry sperm further into the cervix. Studies also now show that regular (e.g. daily) sex, improves sperm quality!

But if you’re both finding the stress of your busy lives also means less than optimal numbers of sexual encounters you might consider the new Viamax range from Sweden. With a range of exclusive, all-natural goodies, Viamax delivers more pleasure for both you and your partner with an exceptional selection of libido-enhancing, arousing and lubricating products!