It is a common understanding that women become less fertile as they grow older. But what a lot of people do not know is that even when women are in their most fertile age (and are healthy) the choices that they make and external factors can have an effect on the woman’s chances of having a healthy baby. women who want to increase their chances of getting pregnant often do not know what are the best things to do or what to watch out for. Here is a list of factors that do (or do not) affect the fertility of a woman and what can you do about them if you want to get pregnant.
1. Obesity
According to experts if you are obese then this can affect the hormone production and make it more difficult for a woman to get pregnant. The more a woman gains weight above her healthy weight the more she has chances to experience decreased ovarian function. In a 2009 study, which was published in Fertility and Sterility, it was found out that women who were obese at the age of 18 had more chances of developing PCOS ( polycystic ovary syndrome) and have problems with infertility. PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder in women who are in their reproductive age and is the leading cause of infertility.
2. Being Too Thin
Being obese has an impact on your fertility but at the same time being too thin can also impact it. This may be because of the reason that women who have a very low BMI (body mass index) are deficient in leptin, a hormone that controls hunger and feeling of satiety. In 2009 a study was conducted by Harvard University which showed that the low levels of leptin contributed to the absence of menstrual periods. According to Dr. Arredondo, maintaining a healthy body weight which means weight which falls in the normal BMI range and which is obtained by a healthy diet and moderate exercise is one of the most important thing women can do to increase their chances of conceiving.
3. Getting Older
When women reach the age of menopause which is usually between 40’s and 50’s, she stops to ovulate and is therefore unable to get pregnant. But even a decade before she goes through menopause officially she may experience problems with fertility as her ovulation becomes less and less regular and her egg count declines. This time is known as pre-menopause. There is no official age when your fertility will start declining but it is said by many doctors that getting pregnant after the age of 35 becomes increasingly difficult. But this age is different for every woman; some women go through pre-menopause earlier while others may remain fertile even through their 40s. Women who are having trouble in getting pregnant should see a specialist sooner rather than later.
4. Your Mother
You should ask your mother how old she was when she went through menopause, as the chances are that if she started on an early age then you would probably also start early. Dr Arredondo says that women are born with a certain amount of eggs and there are certain genetic factors due to which you may be born with more or less eggs than usual, or that would make you use your eggs faster than the other average women. But it is not like that you will certainly start with menopause as your mother. External factors that can not affect you may have impacted your mother.
5. Household Chemicals
Environmental Health Perspectives published a study in 2013 according to which, exposure to pesticides, pollutants and industrial compounds can decrease a couple’s ability to have babies upto 29 percent. In 2015 a Washington University study found out that 15 common chemicals are associated with early menopause. These chemicals include 9 PCBs which have been banned sinec 1979 but can still be found in older products, 3 pesticides, 2 forms of plastics which are called phthalates and are often found in personal care items and beauty products such as perfumes and nail polishes. And these chemicals also include toxin furan which is a byproduct of industrial combustion.
6. Smoking
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine states that up to 13 percent of all the infertility cases are caused due to smoking. The smoke from the cigarette disrupts the hormones and damages the DNA, both in men and women according to Dr. Arredondo. And according to him it does not have to be heavy smoking, women who smoke moderately or the ones who are exposed to second hand smoke also have disrupted endocrine function and can experience fertility issues significantly.
7. Alcohol
There has been no evidence found that a few drinks in a week can affect your fertility, but the doctors do suggest to do caution against heavy drinking. For women drinking more then one drink in a day has been linked with an increase risk for ovulation disorders. In a 2004 Swedish study, in which they tracked more than seven thousand women for 18 years, found out that the women who drank heavily were most likely to sought fertility treatments. Many women already know that it is recommended to stop drinking if you think that you are pregnant. Drinking in the early stages of pregnancy and possibly even before you have conceived has been linked with premature birth. But whether it is safe to drink later in the pregnancy is still to be found out. According to many doctors it is fine to have small amount of alcohol but the Surgeon General and CDC say that it is best not to drink as there is no proof that it is not harmful for your baby.
8. Breastfeeding
Although it is a myth that a woman who is breastfeeding cannot become pregnant, but at the same time it is also true that women who are nursing a child may have trouble getting pregnant with another. But it is soemthing that can have a negative affect on your fertility. Women who are older and want to have another baby before they start worrying about age related fertility decline should discuss with their doctors about how long should they breastfeed. Otherwise it may be wise to wait for at least a year and a half before they have another child. A 2014 study conducted by University of Cincinnati College of Medicine found out that women who waited less than 18 months after having a baby to conceive again are more likely to have a shorter pregnancy and preterm birth.
9. Extreme Exercise
Exercise and working out helps you stay slim, strong and full of energy and they are all important when you want to get pregnant. But what is important to keep in mind is that if you overdo it, it can have a negative impact on the ovulation. This does not only affects the athletes who are very thin. According to a 2012 study that was published in Fertility and Sterility even if women who have normal weight exercise vigorously for more than 5 hours in a week have a harder time in getting pregnant. A change in the menstrual cycle is the most obvious sign of potential problem. It does not have to stop completely, if you notice that it has become shorter or lighter then consult your doctor to talk about the implications on your health and fertility.
10. Injectable Birth Control
Most women can get pregnant within a month after they stop taking any form of hormonal birth control. There is one exception, After each Depo-Provera injection pregnancy is prevented for 12 to 14 weeks and although some women become pregnant within a month after the protection wears off for some women it can take as long as one year before they can conceive. It is recommended by doctors to stop using injectable birth control several months before you are planning to get pregnant.
11. Thyroid Disease
The Obstetrician and Gynecologist published a study in 2015 which supports the theory that had been suspected for a long time, that thyroid disorders can make a contribution in ovulation and pregnancy problems, and it suggests that women who have trouble in conceiving should get tested for an over or under active thyroid. Women who have a significant thyroid disease will have obvious symptoms but sub clinical, undiagnosed hypothyroidism is also a recognized problem and can have subtle effects on the fertility without the knowledge of woman.
12. Caffeine
If you drink a lot of caffeinated drinks than it has been shown in some studies that you might have trouble in getting pregnant. In a 2011 study conducted by Nevada School of Medicine found out that caffeine interferes with muscle contractions which helps the eggs to travel from the ovaries through fallopian tubes to the womb. In a 2012 Danish study it was revealed that drinking 5 or more cups of coffee daily can cut the chances by half for a woman’s successful vitro fertilization. But it has also been suggested in other studies that caffeine does not play any role in the fertility. But in any case if you are struggling to get pregnant it is wise to take a look at your caffeine intake and cut back if you are drinking more than 2 cups of coffee.
13. Medical Conditions
Women, who have health conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome uterine fibroids and endometriosis, may have the problem in getting pregnant or in successfully carrying the pregnancy to full term. Women who have autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can also face problem in conceiving, as their bodies can reject the fertilized egg or attack the partner’s sperm. But there are many cases where women with these health conditions still get pregnant and have healthy babies. With the help a medical team to manage and improve your symptoms and getting fertility help if required can increase your chances of success.
14. Sexual Health History
Chlamydia , in fact causes damage to the fallopian tubes without any symptoms and many women do not know that they have had the disease until they start to experience trouble in getting pregnant. But it is important to know that vaginal infections such as yeast infections do not have any effect on fertility.
15. Stress
Women who have a high level of an enzyme which is linked with stress have a harder time in getting pregnant, according to a 2014 study which was published in Human Reproduction. The researchers say that this study does not indicate that stress is the only reason for fertility problems, but they do suggest that women who are trying to get pregnant for many months should try to adopt a stress management program.
