Fertility Info

If you do your research you can find some interesting studies concerning infertility causes. You are likely to find some causes that you would not have normally linked to infertility. Causes like: Viagra usage, infertility treatments themselves, cell phone usage, and Trans Fats.

Couples who experience infertility are very interested in any link to possible causes. They are often very eager to find a reason for their pain. Some go to great lengths to follow regimens, undergo treatments, avoid certain lifestyles; what ever it takes to have a chance at conceiving their child. They undoubtedly do their research, discover as many causes as possible and make the necessary changes in their lives.

The Trans Fats Study:

A woman who consumes Trans Fats has a 70 percent increased risk of experiencing infertility problems. This statistic is according to a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The trans fats themselves have no nutritional value whatsoever and can be found in processed foods. Trans fats are used to increase the shelf life of these foods. The study indicated that women who attributed 2% of their daily calories to trans fats were 70 to 100% more likely to suffer infertility because of ovulation problems. This amount could be found in just one normal sized doughnut or regular size fries.

The Cell Phone Study:

Males who use cell phones a lot may suffer sperm damage. This interesting fact was gleaned from a presentation made at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine conference, which was held in New Orleans. The study included a group of men from an infertility clinic. They split the men into separate groups with one group not using a cell phone at all during the study, one group using a cell phone for less that two hours each day, another that used a cell phone for 2 to 4 hours a day and the last group that used a cell phone for more than 4 hours each day. The group of men that used their phone for 4 hours a day showed a 30% decrease in sperm motility and viability as compared to the first group of men, those who did not use cell phones during the study. The study also showed that with each level of increased cell phone usage sperm count, quality and shape were also reduced. The possible explanation was that the cell phones were damaging the DNA of the men who used the phones.

The Infertility Treatment Study:

Perhaps the most alarming study would be the one that proclaims that the very treatments the women were undergoing to help them conceive were linked to their decreased fertility. The study consisted of two groups of women. One group of women received IUI’s and the medications that normally are given for this procedure to stimulate ovulation. The second group of women all tried to conceive naturally. The study took in to account the normal miscarriage rate of both groups so that the results were not influenced by this factor. 34% of the women in the natural group conceived and had normal pregnancies, compared to a 29% who conceived normal pregnancies in the IUI group.

The Viagra Usage Study:

Men use Viagra to restore sexual performance. Couples who are trying to conceive are keenly aware of the need for the male to be able to perform. It is likely that men would choose to use this drug at a time when they may be asked to “perform” more frequently in their attempt to conceive a child. The study out of Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, suggests that Viagra causes sperm to release prematurely, the digestive enzymes that are used by the sperm to break down the shell of the ova (egg released by the woman). This would seriously defeat the chance of fertilization from occurring.