Lifestyle Factors that Effect Male and Female Fertility
- Exercise
- Infection
- The Effects of Smoking on Male and Female Fertility
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Heat Exposure and Sperm Production
Exercise for Fertility and Conception:
Exercise is a key influence in health.
Regular exercise contributes to a healthy body weight, good circulation, positive mental health, good digestion……and many other elements of a healthy body that support and aid reproduction. If you don’t already take any exercise, now is just the right time to start! If you have any concerns about getting going it’s a good idea to visit your GP for the OK, especially if you have high blood pressure or joint problems.
If you are overweight or very unfit, I recommend that you build up exercise gradually. A brisk walk 3 times a week is great. There’s no need to run a marathon: gentle to moderate, regular exercise that raises your heartbeat and puts a bit of colour in your cheeks is perfect.
Infection
Sexually transmitted infections, such as Chlamydia, can affect sperm production and fertility. If you feel you may be at risk ask your GP for a simple test.
Smoking and Male and Female Fertility
Smoking delays conception and adversely affects reproduction and that’s a fact.
Smoking effects fertility in two major ways: firstly, because of the toxicity of the 40 metallic compounds and 40+ carcinogens present in cigarette smoke and secondly because of chemical (oxidative) damage caused by compounds found in cigarette smoke which harms the DNA in sperm and eggs.
Numerous chemicals from cigarettes can be found in the reproductive tissues (ovaries and testes) of male and female smokers and these chemicals delay conception, disrupt the development of the embryo and increase the risk of cancers during pregnancy and in childhood.
Smokers have been found to have 4-5 times higher blood cadmium, a heavy metal which builds up in the reproductive tissue of smokers, which can cause cell death in both testes and ovaries. Another chemical, Benzolapyrene is an environmental pollutant found in cigarette smoke. It is carcinogenic and has been isolated in both ovarian and testicular cells of smokers. Benzolapyene is thought to cause destruction of cells as well as decreased oestrogen synthesis which is linked to the early onset of menopause.
The chemical damage to both sperm and eggs, that results from smoking can cause DNA damage and reduced fertility. More worryingly, the chemically modified DNA that may be found in the embryo of a smoking parent may compromise embryonic development, cause failure to implant, early pregnancy loss, and disturbances in post natal development. In males, sperm concentration is about 13% lower in smokers than in non-smokers. Smoking also reduces sperm quality.
In females receiving IVF or embryo transfer, smoking is known to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy because it reduces the number of eggs available for retrieval (8-17% depending on number cigarettes/day) and increases the rate of miscarriage. Female eggs are also vulnerable to genetic damage from smoking.
Stress:
Infertility itself can be extremely stressful. The monthly pressure of trying to conceive and the strain of any treatments can be enormous. These anxieties, in addition to the daily stresses of work, finances, late trains and running out of milk (!) can mean that infertile couples are continually juggling some long term stress issues. Furthermore, stress is thought to exacerbate infertility, which doesn’t help any does it!
Sperm production is driven by the hormone testosterone. Stress can lead to ‘adrenal’ exhaustion which suppresses testosterone production and results in reduced sperm production in men.
But don’t stop reading, because reducing stress with practices such as yoga, meditation, emotional support and changes in diet to reduce your intake of stimulates such as caffeine and alcohol as well as bad fats and sugars, can make a huge difference and has been found to increase fertility caused by stress by an enormous 50% .
Alcohol
High intakes of alcohol can affect fertility and cause damage to the embryo. Drinking any alcohol may reduce your chances of conceiving by half and women who drink every day have a much higher risk (2.5 times more) of miscarriage than non-drinkers. In men, alcohol can lower the production of the male hormone testosterone, which will cause a reduction in sperm production.
Department of Health’s guidelines (2009) recommend that pregnant women, and women who are trying to conceive, should avoid alcohol.
Exposure to environmental chemicals
Every day we are exposed to a multitude of chemicals, such as oestrogens and pesticides, as well as sources of radiation and heavy metals.
Industrial chemicals that mimic oestrogen, and the excreted hormones used in contraception and HRT, are digested from foods and water and circulated around our bodies. In men, these circulating oestrogens may inhibit enzymes involved in testosterone synthesis and therefore, directly affect testosterone production and ultimately the production of sperm.
Chemicals that mimic oestrogen in the body are wide ranging and are thought to include:
- Plastics – compounds such as bisphenol,
- Dioxins – used in manufacture of paper,
- Alkylphenols found in industrial and domestic detergent
- Pesticides (DDT, Phthalates, hydrocarbons- benzene, toluene, xylene, lindane found on cereals, soft fruits, cabbages),
- Fungicide – i.e. vinclozolin used on food
The main threats to human health from heavy metals are associated with lead, cadmium, and mercury. Cadmium is found in soil, water, air, foods, re-chargeable batteries and cigarette smoke, and accumulates over time in reproductive tissue (see smoking and fertility above), leading to necrosis (cell death) in the testes and ovaries. Lead is associated with reproductive failure, amenorrhea (no monthly periods), menstrual disorders, low motility of sperm and low sperm density.
Although it would be virtually impossible to avoid these heavy metals and chemicals completely, you can positively and easily limit your exposure by following the 4 steps below:
- Avoid highly processed foods, particularly from intensively reared animals
- Wash and peel fruit and vegetables
- Avoid skin contact with chemicals in cleaning, decorating and gardening products
- Buy the 5 foods that you eat most frequently organically. These are usually bread, milk, fruit juice, potatoes, and pasta.
Heat Exposure and Sperm Production
Heat can have a detrimental effect on sperm production in men and for this reason nature has placed the testicles outside of the male body rather than internally in the abdomen! Obesity can cause overheating in the testicles because folds of skin cause over-heating, as can long hours of sitting. Lorry drivers, travelling salesman, company reps and people with long daily drives may need to reconsider the number of hours that they spend driving if they suspect they are infertile. Frequent use of saunas and hot tubs should also be avoided. To boost sperm production you or your partner should also ensure that during periods of hot weather loose fitting clothing and underwear is worn as much as possible to keep your reproductive organs cool.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 at 4:56 AM and is filed under Fertility. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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