FEMALE FERTILITY: WHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES MATTER

28 April 20224′ read

Lifestyle choices can affect a woman's ability to conceive. If you would like to become pregnant, you may be wondering about your fertility and whether there is anything you can do to improve it. Some factors may be beyond your control, such as medical issues that affect your ability to conceive. However, your lifestyle choices can have a major influence on your fertility.

What is female fertility?

Female fertility is a woman's ability to conceive a biological child. You and your partner may question your fertility if you have been trying to become pregnant through frequent, unprotected intercourse for at least a year - or at least six months if you are over 35 - without success.

What causes female fertility problems?

Various medical issues can contribute to fertility problems in women, such as:

Ovulation disorders, which affect the release of eggs from the ovaries. These include hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperprolactinaemia and thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism).
Abnormalities of the uterus or cervix, such as polyps or fibroids in the uterus.
Damage to or blockage of the fallopian tubes, often caused by pelvic inflammatory disease.
Endometriosis, which occurs when tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
Primary ovarian insufficiency (early menopause), which occurs when the ovaries stop working and menstruation ends before the age of 40.
Pelvic adhesions — bands of scar tissue that bind organs together after a pelvic infection, appendicitis or abdominal or pelvic surgery.
Medical conditions associated with absent periods, such as poorly controlled diabetes, coeliac disease and some autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

Age also plays an important role. Delaying pregnancy can reduce the likelihood that you will be able to conceive. The decline in the quantity and quality of your eggs with age makes conception more difficult.

What can I do to improve female fertility?

Healthy lifestyle choices can help you promote fertility.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or significantly underweight can suppress normal ovulation.
Prevent sexually transmitted infections. Infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea are a leading cause of infertility in women.
Avoid night shifts, if possible. Regularly working night shifts may put you at a higher risk of infertility, possibly by affecting hormone production. If you work night shifts, try to get enough sleep when you are not working.

Although stress will not stop you from becoming pregnant, consider minimising stress and using healthy coping methods - such as relaxation techniques - while you are trying to conceive.

What is off limits?

Healthy lifestyle choices count here too. To protect your fertility:

Do not smoke. Tobacco use is associated with lower fertility. Smoking ages your ovaries and depletes your eggs prematurely. If you smoke, ask your healthcare provider to help you quit.
Limit how much alcohol you drink. Heavy drinking is associated with an increased risk of ovulation disorders. If you want to become pregnant, consider avoiding alcohol completely. Abstaining around conception and during pregnancy is generally recommended, because no safe level of fetal alcohol exposure has been established.
Limit caffeine. Female fertility does not appear to be affected by caffeine intake below a certain daily amount. Consider limiting your caffeine intake to one or two cups of coffee.
Be careful about over-exercising. Too much vigorous physical activity can suppress ovulation and reduce production of the hormone progesterone. If you are a healthy weight and are thinking of becoming pregnant soon, consider limiting vigorous physical activity to less than five hours a week.
Avoid exposure to toxins. Environmental pollutants and toxins — such as pesticides, dry-cleaning solvents and lead — can have a negative effect on fertility.

If you are thinking of becoming pregnant and are worried about the impact of your lifestyle choices on your fertility, consult a reproductive specialist. They can help you identify ways to improve your fertility and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

ABOUT THE DOCTOR

Dr. Alexandros Traianos

Gynecologist · Specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Fetal Medicine

He supports scientific excellence in clinical practice and recognizes the possibilities offered by modern reproductive methods to couples who wish to have a child of their own.

His profile

The content of this article is for information only and does not replace a medical examination and advice.

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Frequently Asked Questions most frequently.

Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve conception after one year (or 6 months in the case of a woman over the age of 35) of normal, regular sexual intercourse. In other words, when a year has passed without the woman becoming pregnant, the couple should consult their treating physician, so that the cause preventing pregnancy can be identified and subsequently addressed. However, we should all be aware and not forget that age is the most critical factor for female fertility, and that an individualized approach to each couple is the "golden key" that solves the problem.

Of course not. In approximately one third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factor), while in another third of cases it is due to the man (male factor). In the remaining third, it is due to both partners (both the man and the woman) or even to unknown factors.

• alcohol • narcotic substances • environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead • smoking • health problems • medications • radiotherapy and chemotherapy • age

In general, specialists agree that the fact that a couple has already had a child may be considered evidence that, at least initially, there is no infertility problem. It is like a small test that has been carried out and shows that they “succeeded” at least once. On the other hand, however, we should be aware that circumstances may have changed in the meantime and that a problem may have developed (e.g., the man may have had an inflammation affecting the quality of his sperm, or something may have occurred that affects female fertility: an inflammation, gynecological surgery, an abortion, etc.). In any case, therefore, if a reasonable period of time (one year) passes and a couple is unable to achieve a pregnancy, then, with the help of their doctor, they should investigate whether a problem causing infertility has arisen.

Success rates vary at each IVF center. Very important factors also include the woman’s age, her hormone levels, and, of course, her husband’s sperm. In general, rates are around 45% or slightly higher for women up to 35 years of age.

The number of treatment cycles a woman may undergo is not fixed. It is certain that in our country there are highly qualified obstetrician-gynecologists and well-organized infertility treatment centers that provide excellent medical services in this field. Provided that the appropriate indications are present (e.g., ovaries that respond to stimulation treatment, a good-quality endometrium, etc.), the success rate—particularly with the use of newer techniques and biotechnological medicines, which demonstrate increased bioactivity compared with conventional urine-derived medicines—reaches a cumulative rate of approximately 65%–70% after 4 treatment cycles.

Egg retrieval takes 10–15 minutes, is not painful, is performed under sedation, and after the procedure is completed you can return to your activities.

The association between IVF medications and the risk of developing cancer is the greatest concern for women participating in these programs. However, numerous literature references gathered from reliable scientific studies and published in reputable medical journals worldwide are reassuring and do not confirm this concern.

At Dr. Traianos' Reproductive Medicine Center, we offer egg and sperm cryopreservation services for individuals who have a personal or medical reason and require this service. We use the most advanced vitrification technique for the freezing of sperm and eggs.

The first step is a discussion.

Frequently Asked Questions most frequently.

When is a couple considered infertile?

Is infertility only a female problem?

What increases the risk of male infertility?

I already have one child, but I am now having difficulty becoming pregnant again. Could a problem have arisen with me or with my partner?

What is the success rate of in vitro fertilization?

How many times can a woman undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

Is egg retrieval painful?

Can IVF medications cause cancer?

Can I freeze my eggs or my sperm?