- 08/09/2021
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Blogs
This evidence-based review focuses on the impact of potentially modifiable, non-communicable lifestyle factors on reproductive performance in the general population and the infertile population undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. The impact of several lifestyle factors including; age, weight, smoking, diet, exercise, psychological stress, caffeine consumption, alcohol consumption, and exposure to environmental pollutants are included in the review. The databases of Medline, PubMed, and Cinahl were searched to identify relevant publications. There is strong evidence that age, weight, and smoking impact general health and adversely on reproductive performance.
Obesity is not the only way that weight can affect fertility. There is also a risk of infertility for men who are underweight. Men who are underweight tend to have lower concentrations of sperm compared to those with normal BMI
For women, ovarian dysfunction and infertility are associated with being underweight and having extremely low amounts of body fat. Moreover, for women with a BMI below 17.A meta-analysis of 78 studies, which included 1,025,794 participants, the likelihood of ovulatory infertility rises showed that underweight women had an increased risk of preterm birth. Although relatively rare, eating disorders may have a negative effect on menstruation, fertility, and maternal and fetal well-being. Stress, whether physical, social, or psychological, is a prominent part of any society. “Men who feel stressed are more likely to have lower sperm concentrations in their ejaculate, and the sperm they have are more likely to be misshapen or have impaired motility,” Stress and depression are thought to reduce testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsing, disrupt gonadal function, and ultimately reduce spermatogenesis and sperm parameters. A recent study found that women with high levels of alpha-amylase, a stress-related enzyme, have a harder time getting pregnant.