Fig. 8: Mental stress may alter the functional status of endometrium receptivity, thus affecting early pregnancy.

Normally, the successful implantation and development of embryos depend on the function of the endometrium during the receptivity phase. A certain level of epinephrine is beneficial to the decidual differentiation of human endometrial stromal cells, regulating the receptivity stage of endometrial function. Mental stress can lead to an increased endogenous level of epinephrine. Excessive epinephrine level may interfere with the decidual differentiation of human endometrial stromal cells and thus affect embryo implantation.