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Laughter for Fertility

By editor Updated on

“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.”
~Yiddish Proverb
Researchers in South Korea (H. J. Chung, et. al) investigated the effect of laughter therapy on the stress and anxiety that infertility patients often have to deal with. They recruited 40 patients undergoing IVF and all of them were given pre- and post-tests measuring stress levels. Half of the subjects were then provided laughter therapy. The patients in the laughter therapy group saw significantly reduced scores on the depression and anxiety scores.
In other research, the Oxford Conception Study showed that women with high concentrations of the stress indicator alpha amylase in their blood were less likely to get pregnant than women with lower stress hormones. Therefore, adding some humor to your day may be beneficial during the fertility process, especially when receiving fertility treatments.
Along with reducing stress, laughing can also help to:
*Relax the whole body
*Boost the immune system
*Release endorphins or the body’s feel-good chemicals which can even help relieve pain!
*Improve the function of blood vessels and increase blood flow
While every day may not be a “rolling on the floor laughing” kind of day, just adding a little bit of comic relief throughout your day may help with fertility as well as lighten your heart.
Ways to “pop” some humor into your day:
*Read a funny book, cartoon, or collection of jokes or quotes
*Listen to a humorous audiobook while you’re taking a peaceful walk
*Get together with a friend that cracks you up
*Download a song that makes you laugh on your phone or audio device
*Watch a movie or a sitcom that you find hilarious
*Install a photo that makes you giggle on your computer’s desktop or portable device
*Do something that pushes you outside of your comfort zone and makes you laugh
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