And it’s not like we’re spending time with our partner in acts of procreation, when we should be sleeping in bed. The reproductive process is also affected by stress. Ovulation, sperm production, and growing a fetus all take a backseat to fight-or-flight, whether we have a literal tiger or a figurative one (like an impending divorce) on our tail. Impotence, infertility, and miscarriages are all common side effects of chronic stress.
