It's no secret that our lifestyles have a huge impact on our health. From what we eat to how much we exercise, the choices we make every day can affect our fertility and reproductive health in ways we might not realize.
We’ll explore some of the lifestyle choices that can potentially affect your fertility — and how you can start making healthy changes today!
What Is Fertility?
Fertility is the ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. It's a complex process that involves both men and women, and it can be affected by many factors — including lifestyle choices.
Lifestyle Factors That Impact Fertility
The term "lifestyle" is broad, and it can mean different things to different people. It can refer to the way that you live, or it can refer to your habits and preferences.
When it comes to fertility, lifestyle choices can have a huge impact on your ability to conceive. The following are some common factors that can impact fertility:
Smoking
Smoking has been shown to decrease sperm quality and increase the risk of miscarriage in women who are trying to get pregnant.
If you want to get pregnant and you smoke, it's important to stop smoking as soon as possible so that you can give yourself the best chance at success!
Stress Levels
Stress can have a significant impact on fertility. When you're stressed, your body releases the hormone cortisol, which can interfere with ovulation and make it harder for you to get pregnant.
Stress can also cause irregular periods, which makes it more difficult to track your cycle and figure out when you're fertile.
Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption has also been shown to negatively affect fertility in women as well as men. This is because alcohol can damage the sperm and eggs needed for conception.
In addition, it can interfere with ovulation by making it difficult for the body to produce enough hormones needed for ovulation to occur regularly.
Exercise
Regular moderate exercise has many benefits for both men and women who are trying to get pregnant.
For example:
- It helps keep your weight under control, which improves your overall health and increases your chances of becoming pregnant.
- It helps keep your blood pressure under control, which also improves your overall health and increases your chances of becoming pregnant.
- It keeps your heart healthy so that it can pump blood more efficiently throughout your body — including through the uterus.
Diet
Your diet can have a significant impact on your fertility. It's important to eat a balanced, healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and nuts.
Dietary choices, such as eating too much-processed food, can lead to weight gain or obesity, which can negatively impact your chances of conceiving naturally.
A poor diet can also affect your hormone levels which may result in irregular periods or ovulation problems.
Weight
Being overweight and underweight are both factors that can affect fertility. If you are overweight, it may be difficult for your body to ovulate and produce eggs. Being underweight can also cause problems with ovulation and egg production.
If you are trying to get pregnant and have not been able to yet, talk to your doctor about your weight. They may recommend that you gain or lose weight to improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Sleep
Sleep is one of the most important factors that can affect fertility.
The amount of sleep you get, as well as the quality of your sleep, can have a big impact on your fertility.
Getting enough sleep is crucial to maintaining a healthy body and mind. It helps with hormone balance, which is essential for ovulation and pregnancy.
If you're not getting enough rest at night, it could be affecting your ability to get pregnant — so make sure that you're taking time out of each day for some shut-eye.
Exposure to Environmental Toxins
One of the most common ways that lifestyle choices can affect fertility is through exposure to environmental toxins.
Toxins are chemicals that are present in the environment and can cause damage to your body. They're found in everything from food to air pollution, so it's important to avoid them as much as possible if you want to improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Your Advanced Reproductive Technology Services
If you are still struggling to conceive even after adopting a healthier lifestyle, infertility services and advanced reproductive technology (ART) services, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be able to help.