Lifestyle Factors and Fertility

Understanding the Lifestyle Factors that Can Have a Significant Effect on Fertility

Lifestyle factors can have a significant effect on fertility. For the best chance of conception, it is important to be aware of these lifestyle factors and how they could be a potential contributing factor to infertility.

Age

Age matters for both men and women that are looking to start a family. It is a biological fact that as women and men get older, their potential to have a child decreases. While the exact time varies between individuals, women younger than 35 and men younger than 40 have a better chance of having a child.

Weight

If you’re planning a pregnancy, healthy eating and regular exercise can help with boosting your fertility as being overweight or underweight can affect the chances of fertility in both men and women. For women, it can cause problems with hormone levels which can affect the menstrual cycle and the quality of eggs. With men, it can affect the quality of sperm and cause erection problems.

Losing weight is not an easy process and requires a good amount of commitment. By eating healthy meals and doing regular exercise, however, you will be able to improve your chance of pregnancy and having a healthy baby.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Some other lifestyle and environmental factors that could affect your chances of becoming pregnant include:

1. Smoking – Men and women who smoke are more likely to have fertility problems.
   
2. Drinking – Consuming alcohol can also reduce both men and women’s fertility. If you’re trying to conceive, it is best to cut back on alcohol.
   
3. Recreational drugs – Taking recreational drugs can reduce the chance of having a baby and if taken over an extended period of time, it can cause permanent problems to the reproductive system.
   

Health and Medical Factors

There are also some health and medical factors which can affect fertility. They include:

1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – Individuals with PCOS commonly have irregular periods and hormonal imbalance that can affect the chances of pregnancy.
   
2. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) – STIs such as chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea can cause fertility problems.
   
3. Endometriosis – While not all women with endometriosis are infertile, a significant portion of women can have fertility problems.

If you have any queries pertaining to the lifestyle factors mentioned above or would like to make an appointment with one of our fertility specialists, we’re happy to help. Feel free to contact us at 08 9382 2388.

Fertility Society of Australia (FSA)

FSA is the peak body representing scientists, doctors, researchers, nurses, consumers and counsellors in reproductive medicine in Australia and New Zealand.
Their mission is to keep members, health professionals and couples who struggle with infertility up-to-date with the latest information and research.
Please visit the following website for patient-centred care information in regard to fertility and infertility issues: www.fertilitysociety.com.au/patient-centred-care.