Preventing Infertility
Most of us don’t think about our fertility until we realize there is a problem. There are well described ways to protect your fertility and some simple steps you can take today to help you conceive when you are ready to have a baby. It’s important to understand the effets the biological clock, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), environmental toxins, and healthy lifestyle choices have on fertility to help increase your chances of becoming a parent.
Fertility begins to decline at a much earlier age than most people suspect. If you’re a healthy woman, generally your fertility maintains until age 32-33, at which time it gradually declines due to the continual loss of egg number and quality. The biologic clock for men is not as well defined but there is increasing evidence of a decline in male fertility in men over the age of 39. Infertility may be more prevalent than you think- one in eight couples will experience infertility. Age is a huge factor that directly effects fertility in women and men and is something hopeful parents must keep in mind.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help preserve fertility. This includes maintaining a normal Body Mass Index (BMI – a measure of body fat based on height and weight), good nutrition, and exercising in moderation. An elevated BMI can reduce your fertility and increase pregnancy complications including miscarriage. Numerous clinical studies show smoking negatively effects fertility, and this includes both you and your partner. If you’re not currently trying to conceive, practicing safe sex by using condoms is vital. STIs such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID will cause more than 100,000 women in the U.S. to experience infertility every year. Lastly, men should be aware that exposing testes to extreme heat, like a hot tub, saunas or even prolonged exposure to the heat of a laptop computer can cause temporary infertility.
There’s growing evidence that numerous environmental factors not only have a negative effect on fertility, but also on the health of developing fetuses. The chemical bisphenol A (BPA), used in products such as food cans, milk container linings, water pipes and even dental sealants, can disrupt the endocrine system which can directly affect a person’s fertility. Benzene, used to make certain rubbers, lubricants, dyes, and detergents and found in some paint, nail polish, and hair dyes can cause a woman to stop having periods and men may also experience decreased sperm count. Phthalates, and the industrial chemicals used to make plastic can also affect fertility. You can sometimes identify phthalates by looking for these terms: DBP, DEP, DEHP, BzBP and DMP. To learn more about dangerous environmental toxins please look through our Infertility Prevention Handbook.
You might not be thinking of children right now, but if parenthood is in your plan, then taking the steps to help prevent infertility should be part of your present.