How Your Overall Health Affects Fertility

Published by Claudia Giunta

In today’s society, more and more individuals are postponing marriage and starting a family and instead are pursuing their careers and exploring their passions. The percentage of teenagers who are drinking, smoking, exploring drugs, and spreading sexually transmitted infections has been steadily rising. Unhealthy body weight, both underweight and overweight, is more common than ever. 

All of these statistics directly relate to fertility. Most people become aware and concerned about their reproductive health when they become sexually active and may want to prevent pregnancy. The reality is that the choices we make as adolescents can have a major impact on our ability to get pregnant. The following are some quick statistics about fertility:

• Infertility can be caused by a problem with either the man's or woman’s system, or both. 
• 1 in 8 couples have difficulty getting pregnant.
• The natural fertility rate is only 20%.
• Fertility begins to decline around age 35.
• For women who are considered obese, a 5-10% weight loss can dramatically improve conception.

Let’s take a closer look at infertility risk factors and how some infertility problems can be prevented through simple lifestyle changes. 

Nova Vita Solutions 

Nova Vita can help you assess your whole-body health to determine if you are at risk of being infertile. Our blood lab panels will detect low nutrient levels and, based on your results, our healthcare experts will help you make informed decisions about your health needs. We now offer testosterone replacement therapy with added medication to maintain fertility. If you are concerned about hormonal imbalances, Nova Vita will assess your hormone levels and guide you from those results. From weight management services to infusions to wellness evaluations, Nova Vita will help you take control of your health.

What is Infertility?

Infertility is a problem of the reproductive system and is when a couple cannot get pregnant (conceive) despite having regular unprotected sex. Either partner could cause it or be an issue with more than one of their systems. Many couples have more than one health factor that can contribute to infertility. For conception to occur, the following must happen:

• The male must produce healthy sperm.
• The woman must make healthy eggs.
• The fallopian tubes must be open so the egg can travel to the sperm and vice versa.
• The sperm has to fertilize the egg.
• The embryo must implant in the uterus and thrive. 

When is a Couple Considered Infertile?

A couple is believed infertile if conception does not happen:

• After one year (or more) of unprotected sex.
• After 6 months in women over age 35.
• If there are known health concerns contributing to infertility.

What Causes Infertility?

Infertility may be caused by several different factors, in either the male or female reproductive systems.

Female Factors

• Ovulation Problems: The woman doesn’t make enough hormones to develop and release a healthy egg.

• Endometriosis: The normal lining of the uterus starts to grow outside the uterine wall, implanting on other reproductive organs or in the abdominal cavity and surrounding organs. The misplaced tissue can build up, break down, and bleed, causing scar tissue to form and affect fertility.

• Anatomy Problems: The most common anatomical problem that prevents the egg and sperm from meeting is a woman’s blocked fallopian tubes. Other issues include scar tissue in the pelvis caused by past infections or surgeries.

• Infection: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs often caused by chlamydia and gonorrhea. PID can affect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and the ovaries. 

• Weak Immune System: Certain immune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, can increase a person’s risk of infertility. Women can also develop anti-sperm antibodies that attack and destroy sperm.
• Birth Defects: Abnormalities in a woman’s reproductive system can happen during fetal development. Some birth defects are the result of exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in a mother’s womb. DES was a popular medicine women took in the 1950s to prevent pregnancy loss.

Male Factors

• Low/Absent Sperm Production: Without enough healthy sperm, fertilization is hard to achieve. 
• Abnormal Sperm Function: If the sperm isn’t functioning properly it won’t be able to swim and penetrate the egg.
• Hormone Disorders: Abnormal male hormone levels or endocrine function can affect sperm production and fertility.
• Varicocele: Enlarged veins develop around the testes and are a common cause of infertility in men.
• Chromosome Defects: Certain chromosome defects can cause infertility.
• Birth Defects: Some birth defects are due to a man’s exposure to DES taken by his mother during pregnancy.
• Immune System Problems: Having anti-sperm antibodies attack and destroy sperm. 

Lifestyle Habits That Affect Infertility

Some lifestyle habits (that can be controlled) may affect infertility including the following:

• Heavy alcohol use
• Heavy drug use (marijuana or cocaine)
• Smoking
• Excessive energy drink consumption (specifically for males)
• Taking certain medications
• Excessive heat to the genital area such as hot tubs or saunas.

Reducing Your Risk of Infertility

You can reduce your risk of infertility by considering the following:

• Maintain a normal healthy weight: Weighing too much or too little can reduce your chances of fertility as well as affect your overall health. Determine your healthy body weight by calculating your BMI.

• Exercise: Stay physically active to maintain a healthy weight, increase your muscle mass, and lower your risks of certain health concerns. 

• Don’t smoke: Smoking can lower your chances of pregnancy and increase your risk of miscarrying. 

• Reduce alcohol intake: Drinking too much alcohol can affect the quality of a man’s sperm. If you are pregnant, refrain from drinking any alcohol to help keep your baby safe.

• Don’t have unprotected sex: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can affect fertility.

• Don’t delay pregnancy too late: Fertility declines with age, gradually declining when a woman is in her early to mid-30s. By age 40, the chances of getting pregnant in any monthly cycle is around 5%.  
• Check your hormone levels: Hormonal imbalances are a leading cause of infertility in women. You can get a blood test to determine if there are any hormonal issues affecting fertility. 

Infertility Treatment

Depending on the causes of infertility, a doctor may recommend treatment choices for an infertile couple. Types of treatment for women include ovulation medicine, repair surgery, in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor eggs, and more. Treatment for male factor infertility may include artificial insemination, IVF, medicine therapy, and surgery. 

Bottom Line

To give yourself the best chance for a healthy pregnancy, know what can affect you or your partner’s ability to get pregnant, how to avoid infertility risk factors, and make smart health choices that affect your future. Talk to your primary care physician to assess your reproductive health. If you’re over the age of 35, seek medical assistance from a trained reproductive specialist if you have not achieved pregnancy within 12 months. 

A good healthy body will support a healthy reproductive system. Learn how Nova Vita can improve your health, from lab panels to infusions to hormone therapy by booking an appointment today.