Research repeatedly demonstrates the significant influence of lifestyle factors such as what you eat, how well you sleep, where you live, and other behaviors on health and disease. The same applies to fertility. Numerous lifestyle choices have an impact on fertility in both men and women.
There is no specific reason as to why this happens; you can visit Parvathi hospital, infertility specialist in Hyderabad to know about the cause in detail. There are many reasons, but these are not restricted to diet, exercise, and weight; stress, both physical and mental; occupational and environmental exposures; substance and drug use and abuse; and pharmaceuticals.
Causes of infertility:
To become pregnant, every step during ovulation and fertilization must take place as intended. The problems that prevent couples from becoming pregnant sometimes exist at birth and other times they arise later in life. One partner may be affected by infertility factors, or both. Sometimes there is no apparent cause. Some infertility causes only impact one partner, while others affect both. Infertility risk factors include:
- Age, especially in your late 30s or early 40s. Around age 50, men’s fertility starts to decline.
- Eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa.
- Excessive alcoholic beverage intake.
- Meeting environmental poisons such chemicals, lead, and pesticides.
- Over-exercising.
Impact of diet on fertility:
Points you need to know about fertility Diet has a big effect on fertility because it’s so important for reproductive health generally, hormonal balance, and reproductive function. Here are some important things to think about:
- Nutrition:
Consuming a diet that is well-balanced and rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals is necessary for reproductive health. Vitamins C and E, iron, folate, and other nutrients have been related to increased fertility in both men and women.
- Weight control:
It’s crucial for fertility to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can throw off the body’s hormonal equilibrium, which can cause irregular menstrual cycles, worse sperm quality, and a higher risk of diseases like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). On the other side, hormonal imbalances and irregular ovulation brought on by being underweight might also have an impact on fertility.
- Insulin resistance:
Insulin resistance can have a negative effect on fertility, and high-glycemic-index foods and diets that generate sharp blood sugar increases may be a contributing factor. Insulin resistance impacts the production of hormones and can prevent women from ovulating and men from producing sperm.
- Mediterranean diet:
The Mediterranean diet has been linked to better reproductive results because it is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory substances, and nutrients which promote reproductive health are abundant in this diet.
- Alcohol and coffee:
Both men and women have been shown to have lower fertility when consuming large amounts of alcohol and coffee. When attempting to get pregnant, it is best to minimize or limit your intake of these substances.
- Hydration:
Staying properly hydrated is important for reproductive health. Consuming enough water assists in preserving healthy cervical mucus, which promotes sperm survival and motility.
What to do to promote fertility?
Making healthy lifestyle decisions can support fertility. Act to:
- Keep a healthy weight. Normal ovulation can be hampered by being overweight or considerably underweight.
- Halt the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. For women, gonorrhea and chlamydia are the two most common causes of infertility.
- Night shifts should ideally be avoided: Regularly working the night shift could increase your chances of infertility through changing hormone production, among other things. Try to get adequate sleep when you’re not working if you do the night shift.
Although stress won’t prevent you from becoming pregnant, when you’re trying to get pregnant you should think about reducing stress and using healthy coping mechanisms like relaxation techniques.
Lifestyle choices to make to overcome infertility:
- Avoid smoking:
Lower fertility is related to tobacco usage. Smoking ages your ovaries and causes an early egg shortage. Ask your doctor for assistance in quitting smoking if you currently do so.
- Keep alcohol consumption under check:
Ovulation abnormalities are linked to an increased risk of heavy drinking. If you want to get pregnant, you might want to fully cut out alcohol. Since there is no known safe level of fetal alcohol consumption, abstinence is generally advised at conception and during pregnancy.
- Limit caffeine:
Caffeine consumption below 200 milligrams per day does not appear to have an impact on female fertility. One or two 6- to 8-ounce cups of coffee per day might be the maximum amount of caffeine you should consume.
- Avoid over-exerting yourself:
Too much intense exercise can prevent ovulation and lower progesterone levels in the body. If you are healthy and planning a pregnancy soon, think about keeping your weekly amount of rigorous exercise to less than five hours.
- Stay away from poisons:
Pesticides, dry cleaning solvents, and lead are just a few examples of the environmental poisons and contaminants that can harm fertility.