Preconception series What can impact my fertility 1260x542
31 Mar 2010

Preconception series: What can impact my fertility?

4 mins to read
A healthy body is a more fertile body and everything that you eat, drink, breath, feel and do can impact upon it. Taking a holistic approach to things that can affect your fertility ensures you are best prepared for embarking on the path to pregnancy.


Age

Less than 20% of Australian women and men understand that their fertility declines with age. Fertility starts to significantly decline for both men and women after the age of 35. Read more about the age factor.

Combined with the effects of ageing, lifestyle and general health factors can significantly impact the chances of a couple conceiving. So if you are over 35 it is even more important that you look after your health when planning a pregnancy.

Reproductive conditions

Tubal disease (‘blocked tubes’) – may be caused by a past history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia. A past ectopic pregnancy that damaged a tube may mean that chances are reduced due to only one functioning Fallopian tube.

Male (sperm) problems - These may include one or a combination of either low sperm count, poor motility (movement), poor morphology (quality), and sperm antibodies. It has been estimated that male infertility is a factor in 50% of all infertility problems. There are many causes that should be investigated with a specialist.

Ovulation disorders – (no or irregular ovulation). Approximately 75% of infertility due to lack of ovulation is due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition is associated with hormonal imbalance, blood sugar regulation difficulties and difficulty conceiving. For more information see www.pcos.org.au. Other women may have problems with ovulation due to stress, travel, dieting, being under or overweight or due to illness or other lifestyle issues.

Endometriosis and uterine problems – Endometriosis is found in up to 40% of women who present with infertility. It occurs when tissue like that lining the uterus grows outside the uterus. For more information see www.ecca.com.au or www.endometriosis.org.au. Fibroids, benign lumps of tissue growing in or on the wall of the uterus, or an abnormal shaped uterus can also contribute to fertility problems.

Infrequent or poorly timed intercourse or failure to ejaculate - Counselling about the best timing for conception attempts and psychological barriers to effective intercourse may need to be addressed for some couples. Mistiming intercourse may be a major reason for not conceiving.

Illness and medication

Many general health conditions can affect a woman’s and man’s fertility. These may be transient (like a temperature) which resolve after a few weeks to months, or may be ongoing (like hepatitis C, low thyroid function or diabetes). If you have ongoing health problems, these may impact on your fertility or a pregnancy. Discuss your plans for conception with your doctor or healthcare practitioner.

Weight

If you are overweight or obese (even if you have a normal menstrual cycle), it will take you longer to conceive and you will be at greater risk of having a stillbirth or a baby with a malformation. You will also be at greater risk of having pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia and premature delivery. Being overweight or obese also significantly reduces fertility in men. Couples have a high risk of reduced fertility if they are both overweight or obese. If you are overweight or obese a weight loss of just 5-10% can improve your ovulation and chance of pregnancy.

Women with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia can have problems with ovulation, menstruation, fertility and pregnancy. It is important to seek professional assistance and advice if you have physical or psychological problems with your weight.

Nutrition

A woman’s micronutrient status in the preconception period, and throughout pregnancy and lactation, should be viewed as a continuum. Nutrient status at conception can affect both the mother’s and baby’s health. Diets low in essential vitamins and minerals can pose a significant reproductive risk and it is suggested that an adequate supply of nutrients is probably the single most important environmental factor affecting pregnancy outcome.

A significant number of Australian women have lower than recommended intakes of essential nutrients before falling pregnant.

Many nutrients are important for a healthy ovulation, conception and pregnancy, including antioxidants, which can help protect the reproductive system from free radical damage. The chances of conceiving increase in women with higher levels of antioxidants in the fluid surrounding their reproductive organs.

The B vitamins (including folate), vitamins C and E, the minerals iodine, iron, zinc and selenium, omega-3 fatty acids and coenzyme Q10 all play essential roles in the reproductive system. Some reside in the ovaries and eggs to support ovulation, whilst others support hormonal activity. Others assist the blood flow to the uterus, some support the embryo to divide normally and others protect the vulnerable egg and embryo from damage, thus preventing birth defects.

Toxins

Avoiding recreational, environmental and medication-derived toxins can significantly improve your chances of a healthy conception and pregnancy.

Tobacco smoking and marijuana - It is highly recommended that both prospective parents quit before attempting conception because smoking so strongly affects fertility. For example, women smokers have approximately 50% the fertility of non-smokers. Passive smokers may also have reduced fertility.

Alcohol – The Australian National Research Council advises against drinking alcohol before and during pregnancy. Women who drink 0-1 alcoholic units per week have a greater chance of conceiving compared with women who drink 1-5 drinks. Even moderate levels of alcohol affect fertility. Alcohol also has many damaging effects on male reproduction.

Caffeine – High intake has been linked to reduced fertility in both women and men. Caffeine has also been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage.

Other toxins – Many substances can be reproductive toxins (affecting fertility and the health of a growing baby) for men and women. These include heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, pesticides, fertilisers and insect fumigation chemicals, anaesthetics, printing inks, solvents and paints, various gases/fumes and radiation. Heat is also considered a toxin for sperm.

It is important to check out your workplace, your home and hobby sites for potential sources of toxins and seek the guidance of a healthcare practitioner. Some testing can be done to assess your heavy metal levels (via blood, urine or hair). Even moderate levels of these substances can adversely affect fertility.

Medications - Both prescription and over-the-counter medications may be a problem for both prospective parents planning to conceive. Some medications can affect sperm production and function, whilst others may affect ovulation, cervical mucus or be teratogenic (cause birth defects).

If you take any type of medication, see your doctor to discuss any risks to your fertility.

Stress

Stress can reduce your fertility. Fortunately, reducing your stress can improve your fertility! Seek out a stress reduction technique that works for you.



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