Understanding how stress affects sex hormones can help ease the tension that arises because of sexual dysfunction. Communication during times of stress is crucial to prevent getting sexual signals crossed during stressful times.

When an individual is stressed, reproduction is an unneeded function that the body wants to avoid. The body uses several mechanisms to ensure that reproduction does not take place. Stress affects fertility at every level of the reproductive system. Cortisol and hormones that stimulate cortisol production inhibit the processes needed for reproduction. Ovulation is inhibited by endorphins and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which are released during stress.

Cortisol blocks hormones produced in the pituitary gland, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH stimulate egg production and ovulation in the ovary and sperm production in men, which are necessary for reproduction. The biochemistry of how chronic stress affects our reproductive system is not yet completely understood. However, it is clear that several important body systems are disrupted the result of which can lead to infertility and sexual dysfunction.

The endocrine and nervous systems, which are important for sexual functioning, are affected by stress. Stress affects both the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, which control the release of sex hormones. The effect of stress disrupts sexual hormonal balance vital for sexual and reproductive functioning. At the level of the ovary and testicle, cortisol suppresses estrogen and progesterone in women and testosterone in men. Cortisol affects reproduction at many levels to decrease the possibility of reproduction during stressful times.

The body’s obsession with preventing reproduction is further reinforced by the sympathetic nervous system causing decreased blood flow to the reproductive organs. Decreased blood flow leads to difficulty with the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus. This decrease in blood flow can also decrease sexual arousal. Under normal conditions, several hormones act together, creating the balance needed for sexual functioning.

These hormones include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, oxytocin, prolactin, DHEA (the precursor for testosterone and estrogen), and thyroid hormones. Chronic stress increases cortisol production, while DHEA production decreases. Testosterone and estrogen are derived from DHEA. Consequently, stress also reduces the level of these two sex hormones, fundamentally altering sexual and reproductive function. For more information about stress and sexual dysfunction be sure to pick up a copy of our book, The Stress Connection by Drs. Eldred and Ava Taylor.