Updated by the Progyny Editorial Team — November 2025.
Did you know that humans are actually pretty good at dealing with stress? But there's a catch: we're built for short-term stress. When stress lasts long-term and keeps piling on, we just don't have time to bounce back, and we may lose our sense of control.
This is why the fertility journey can be so emotionally exhausting. It's filled with unpredictable personal stress over a long time. All the while, you're still dealing with relationships, work, news events, and life in general.
Long-term stress triggers constant adrenaline (your fight or flight hormone), so your body is always on alert. At the same time, it uses up serotonin (your mood-stabilizing hormone), so it's harder to cope. This leaves you emotionally exhausted.
Signs of emotional exhaustion can include:
It only takes one of these signs to know you're emotionally exhausted!
When we're stressed, we naturally dwell on the past and worry about the future. When faced with fertility issues, it's common to wonder if we did something wrong, and what we can do to fix it. But you can't control the past or future, and that worry keeps you from being present in the current moment.
On top of that, not everyone feels comfortable talking about their journey, and it's easy to feel isolated and alone. If you're trying to be strong to support your partner, or are culturally conditioned not to show emotion, you may have an even tougher time.
Typically, there aren't enough hours in the day - we're overbooked, sleep-deprived, and stressed.
This is why it's so important to underwhelm yourself. Practice saying "no" before you reach your breaking point. There's absolutely no need to feel guilty or like you're making excuses. You're simply taking care of yourself the way you take care of other people.
We are wired to worry. It takes practice to retrain your mind to let go of the worry. A few ideas that can help:
Having a support system is essential for dealing with stress on your fertility journey. Even one person to share with (aside from your partner, if you have one) can make a big difference. If you can find someone who's been through a similar journey, it can be helpful to talk to someone who really understands what you're going through.
At the same time, everyone has their own comfort level with sharing personal information. It's always a good idea to be thoughtful about who you talk to. If someone gives unwelcome advice or asks questions you're not comfortable with, it's perfectly OK to let them know you don’t want to talk about it.
Your Progyny Care Advocate is available to provide personalized support and a listening ear. For a deeper dive on emotional exhaustion, watch the following clips from a Progyny webinar on the topic. Featuring: