Fertility Info

Age

The number one risk for infertility in women is age. Women can have a reduced chance of conceiving after age 32, due to less eggs remaining in her ovaries. The eggs are usually still good in her 30′s. Eggs are not reproduced. Females are born with a certain number of eggs in the ovaries and each month during menstruation, the supply depletes. In older women the cause is more likely abnormalities in the eggs due to age, along with less eggs remaining in her ovaries. As women age, they are more likely to have health problems that could interfere with fertility.

Men’s fertility also decreases with age, starting around age 35. The decrease for men is more gradual than it is for women.

Tobacco Smoking

Women who smoke during fertility treatment run the risk of interfering with their effectiveness. Women are also had a higher risk for miscarriage when they smoke. It is also more difficult to conceive when women smoke. The American Society For Reproductive Medicine states that tobacco smoking has been shown to increase the risk for infertility, due to the fact that it is harmful to the woman’s ovaries and research has shown that it takes a smoker longer to conceive than a non-smoker (having all other factors equal).

Smoking also appears to deplete the supply of eggs faster and to hasten the onset of menopause in women.

According to The American Society For Reproductive Medicine, studies of IVF (in vitro fertilization) have reported that in those women who are smokers and undergo IVF; they require higher doses of gonadotropins, (drugs used to stimulate their ovaries). Smokers also have lower peak estradiol levels, and fewer eggs retrieved. IVF candidates who smoke also have lower implantation rates, and undergo more cycles in order to achieve pregnancy. These studies show that if you are going to spend the time and money on an IVF cycle; it would make sense to stop or at least cut back on cigarette smoking.

Alcohol

There has not been any safe level of alcohol consumption established for pregnancy or for conception. It is best for women who are trying to conceive or who are pregnant to refrain from drinking any alcoholic beverages. Recent studies have shown that even moderate drinking can lessen your chance of conceiving. Alcoholism, which is considered to be 8 or more drinks per day or 120 g of alcohol, can contribute to ovulatory dysfunctions. So if you are experiencing anovulatory cycles (not releasing an egg) you may try to cut back or stop drinking all together to increase your chances for conception. Alcohol use has also been associated with a higher risk for luteal phase defect, which is abnormal development of the endometrial lining of the uterus.

Weight

The body mass index or your BMI can also affect fertility. Having a BMI that is too high or too low can affect ovulation and therefore increase your risk for infertility.

Obesity (being 50 lbs. over your ideal body weight)

This can also contribute to infertility.

Underweight

Women with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia are at an increased infertility risk. Women who are either strict vegetarians or who are on extremely low calorie or restrictive diets may also encounter infertility problems due to lacking certain necessary vitamins and minerals like B-12, zinc, iron and folic acid. Women who are underweight due to extreme physical exercise like those who are marathon runners, dancers and other athletes are at risk due to higher than normal risk for menstrual irregularities that lead to infertility.