Stress, the nervous system & fertility
Trying to conceive can place a quiet, constant strain on the body. Not just because of medical steps or lifestyle changes, but because of what the process asks of you emotionally: hope and disappointment, anticipation and waiting, uncertainty that repeats itself month after month. Even when life on the surface keeps moving, the body often stays on edge.
This is one of the core themes in Florish's Reading Room – a place to look beneath that experience. At the nervous system, and the role it plays in fertility. As a system that continuously responds to what it senses: safety, pressure, unpredictability, and time. Here, we focus on understanding what happens in the body during this journey – without judgement, without quick conclusions, and without asking you to be calmer than you already are.
Why the nervous system matters in fertility
The nervous system is the body's primary regulator. It determines whether the body moves toward growth and restoration – or toward protection. At the centre of this system is a simple distinction:
fight-or-flight, where the body prioritises survival
rest-and-repair, where reproduction becomes possible
When the body perceives ongoing pressure or uncertainty, it naturally leans toward the first state.
In that state:
stress hormones like cortisol take the lead
blood flow and energy are redirected
reproductive processes become less of a priority
This isn't a sign that something is wrong. It's the body doing what it's designed to do when it senses ongoing pressure – responding to circumstances that keep asking something of you. Understanding this can shift the story from "I'm doing something wrong" to "my body is responding to something real." And from that place, there's actually room to work with what's happening, rather than against it.
How the nervous system responds when trying to get pregnant
A nervous-system-first approach doesn't start with mindset or motivation.
It starts with physiology.
It asks:
How does the body respond to repeated emotional load?
Why might the nervous system remain alert, even when you're doing "all the right things"?
What does safety mean on a biological level – not as a feeling, but as a state?
A key example of this is the relationship between cortisol and progesterone. Both rely on overlapping pathways in the body. When stress hormones remain elevated, they tend to take priority. Survival signals always come first. That's how the body is designed.
This doesn't mean stress causes fertility problems. And it doesn't mean you are stressed "too much" or "wrong." It also doesn't ignore the fact that the fertility journey itself creates stress – the waiting, the disappointment, the medical steps, the isolation. That's real. And your body is responding to it all.
Fertility unfolds within a physiological context – and that context matters. It can feel deeply unfair. You're doing everything – tracking, timing, supplements, rest – and still your body doesn't cooperate. That frustration is real. And it's not about trying harder. It's about understanding that your body is responding to something beneath the surface – something that logic and willpower can't always override.
What you'll find in this resource
This space is:
science-informed, but written with care
grounded and modern, not clinical or abstract
explanatory, not prescriptive
It is not about:
quick fixes
forcing calm
blaming emotions or mindset
replacing medical care
You won't find checklists or "10 steps" here. What you will find is language for what your body may be responding to – so the experience feels less confusing and less lonely.
If you want to go deeper
If this perspective resonates, you might want to continue reading with one of these pieces:
Mindfulness & fertility: a nervous-system approach
An introduction to the framework that underlies Florish's approach to fertility. Read this if you want to understand what we mean when we talk about nervous system support – and why it's different from what you may have heard before.
How to actually relax when trying to get pregnant
A closer look at why your body often stays on alert during fertility journeys, even when rest and reassurance don't seem to land. Read this if you've ever felt guilty for not being able to "just relax" – it explains why your body stays vigilant, even when you want it to let go.
This Reading Room will grow over time – new pieces will be added as this exploration deepens.
One last thing
This space isn't here to tell you what to do. It's here to help you understand what may already be happening – quietly, beneath the surface. Sometimes that understanding alone changes how the journey is carried.
Ready to start immediately?
Try our free guided audio meditation – a gentle practice to help your nervous system land, without pressure or performance.
