Has Modern Lifestyle Become the Leading Cause for Infertility?
- 29 Jul, 2022
- IVF and Infertility
- infertility
- Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Nishi Singh - Author: Prime IVF Centre
Data from the World Health Organization suggests that close to 48 million couples worldwide struggle with infertility issues. Lifestyle changes ranging from the prioritization of a career to a stress-bound daily routine, several factors influence the fertility score.
The medical field is expanding to accommodate such shifts but the one question that irks people’s minds is, “What are the Causes of Infertility?” Is it influenced by the modern lifestyle? And, to be fair, several studies suggest that the modern lifestyle has a grave influence on the triggers leading to infertility.
Just poor diet or lack of an active lifestyle does not lead to infertility. There are several other influencing factors that modern-day couples aren’t even aware about that are contributing to their incidence of infertility. We will explore how the modern lifestyle is becoming a leading cause of infertility and what can be done to reverse the impacts.
Table of Contents
1. Modern Lifestyle and Infertility- The Dangerous Duo
Infertility problems are prevalent and we are often quick to blame our eating habits, weight gain, lack of exercise, etc. as the major contributors. While they definitely play a huge role, the complications run deeper than what we notice superficially.
Will you be surprised if we said that the detergent you are using for your clothes could be of potential harm to your reproductive health?
At Prime IVF Centre, we often accommodate couples who are struggling to conceive due to unexplained reasons. However, we often fail to pay attention to the common triggers around us.
We will discuss more on the causes of infertility in this guide for you to look through:
Chemical Hazards
- Plastic Container: The use of plastic containers is diverse, versatile and becoming exceedingly common. We use it in our pantry, drink water out of plastic bottles, and even store our leftover food in them. But, did you realize that they are often one of the leading contributors to infertility?
You must be thinking, “But, how?”
Most plastic containers and bottles contain a toxic chemical called Bisphenol-A (BPA), which has a direct correlation with low sperm count in males. Not just that BPA also affects the ovarian reserve in women, leading to fertility concerns down the road.
Not just BPA, even the prevalent availability of phthalates in vinyl products and personal care items contribute to poor sperm quality and sperm DNA fragmentation, both of which are leading causes of male infertility. - Detergent and Soaps: Not just the plastic containers, the excess use of toxic detergents for washing clothes have a viable impact on the sperm count and sperm quality in men. The emulsifying agent in the detergent, nonylphenol, is what triggers the risks of infertility, further leading to extended risks of infertility.
- Cookware (Teflon): Non-stick cookware, especially ones made with poor and cheaper quality materials like Teflon and different kinds of Perfluoroalkyl acids is considered a hazard.
Excess exposure to these toxic chemicals contributes to irregularities in the menstrual cycle due to poor ovulation cycles. Additionally, it also affects the sperm quality in men, which contributes to concerns of infertility.
Dietary Habits and Food Triggers
- Caffeine: When talking about caffeine, we aren’t just indicating the “more natural” sources like coffee and tea. Instead, the caffeine from carbonated drinks is what contributes to poor reproductive health, especially as seen in men.
There are studies that even indicate that the caffeine from these carbonated beverages affects the sperm’s viability and quality in the long run.
In women, the impacts of caffeine are even more profound. Excess caffeine in the bloodstream directly impairs the muscular activity of the fallopian tubes, which prevents easy “travel” of the egg from the ovaries to the womb for fertilization. This roadblock prevents the chances of pregnancy in women, raising the risks of infertility. - Alcohol: Like caffeine, even alcohol does no good to the body in the long run. It is dehydrating and vehemently affects the sex drive or libido in men. Studies also suggest a direct correlation between excessive alcohol consumption and poor sperm quality.
Since alcohol has a direct impact on the liver, excess consumption leads to a condition called hepatic congestion>, which is a reason for infertility in females. It alters the hormonal levels in the body, which affect ovulation and chances of pregnancy.
Excess alcohol consumption is also associated with the incidence of hypogonadism, which is low levels of male sex hormones like testosterone, etc. This leads to poor sperm quality and count. - Excess Red Meat: Lean proteins from chicken, turkey, and fish are considered healthy for reproductive health. However, excess levels of red meat like beef, goat, mutton, etc. are considered unhealthy in the long run.
Even a Harvard study found that switching to a plant-based diet was found to significantly improve female infertility concerns. The primary reason why red meat is a trigger behind infertility is due to the excess levels of arachidonic acid in it. This leads to inflammatory reactions, which is a leading point of concern in female infertility.
Also, studies have found that the prevalent availability of xenobiotics in red meat contributes to poor reproductive development in the fetus in utero. So, not just for infertility, excess red meat has severe impacts during and after pregnancy as well. - Sweets: Excess sweet consumption is related to obesity and hormonal imbalance, which is a leading trigger of female and male infertility. Women with excess sex hormone binding globulins (SHBG) in their bodies experience reduced libido, which can lead to fertility concerns down the road.
Also, obesity is directly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOD), which is a looming trigger of infertility.
So, in short, the modern lifestyle and dietary habits, which include a lot of fast food and unhealthy meals could be a contributing trigger behind infertility, miscarriages, and birth complications as well.
In men, the excess fat cells in the body secrete estrogen, which counteracts the androgen production in the bloodstream, leading to poor sperm production. - Low Fat Foods: We have heard growing up that you shouldn’t eat “fatty” foods or foods that are high in fat. What we fail to realize is that “healthy fats” make a lot of difference in the body, especially concerning fertility and reproductive health.
Studies have found that women who rely on a very low-fat diet struggle with ovulatory issues, which could lead to infertility if the diet isn’t changed. Omega-3 fatty acids have promising impacts on a woman’s reproductive health, reducing the risks of endometriosis, which is a leading cause of infertility in women.
Stress Impacts
- Impacts on Testosterone Production: Given the kind of fast-paced life that we lead, being stressed is part of the lifestyle. Be it for excess workload or unemployment, men often find themselves in a stressful situation, worrying about the future.
Stress is justified and quite common but it has adverse impacts on fertility and reproductive health.
Studies found that men experiencing employment-related stress were at heightened risks of hypogonadism, which is characterized by low levels of testosterone production. It is one of the leading causes of infertility in men. - Impacts on GnRH: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone or GnRH is a highly influential hormone when it comes to reproductive health. Studies have found that excess stress heightens the levels of cortisol in the bloodstream, which inhibit the secretion of GnRH, leading to infertility.
Not just in females, the impacts of suppressed GnRH levels in the blood affect male reproductive health equally. - Impacts on Adrenaline: Not just cortisol, our bodies also release adrenaline during times of stress. The excess levels of this hormone make the body inhabitable for a successful conception, leading to fertility concerns in the long run.
Also, in females, excess progesterone inhibits the optimal uptake and utilization of progesterone, a hormone that is key to female fertility and future conception. Excess adrenaline also triggers the release of prolactin in the body, which is associated with infertility. - Oxidative Stress: Unlike the other forms of stress and their impacts on fertility, oxidative stress is different and dependent on environmental factors.
The free radical damage in the body directly affects the sperm quality and sperm count, both of which are tied with male infertility.
These influencing modern lifestyle factors are a testament that even the smallest triggers around us could contribute to infertility without our direct knowledge. Even the medications for chronic diseases like IBS were found to have drastic impacts on fertility.
Conclusion
Many men and women are constantly struggling with a variety of physiological and psychological issues in the modern world. Be it personal or professional, the prevalent triggers are continually contributing to the causes of female infertility and male infertility.
At Prime IVF Centre, priority is given to a diagnosis first. There is no point in starting a treatment plan without understanding what’s causing the infertility concerns in the first place. Once a diagnosis is reached, a customized treatment plan is curated by our board-certified doctors and assisted treatments are initiated in the state-of-the-art treatment rooms for optimal success rate.
For further concerns and detailed information about our services, contact via https://www.primeivfcentre.com/contact-us.
FAQs
1. How is infertility addressed in modern times?
Advancements in the field of medicine are profound. What was once impossible has now become mainstream. Take in-vitro fertilization, and other assisted reproductive techniques as an example. Times are changing and so are the ways people get help for infertility concerns.
2. Why is infertility so common today?
Concerns of poor diet, lifestyle choices, BMI, and ill habits are some of the leading causes of infertility in both men and women.
3. Does a healthy lifestyle increase fertility?
Fertility is influenced by a myriad of factors. While switching to a healthy lifestyle might enhance fertility, getting a thorough evaluation is key to understanding the issues.
