Healthy Living

Did you know that your lifestyle can affect your fertility? Your general health can have an affect on your ability to conceive, and so can a variety of other lifestyle factors. The good news is that most of these areas are relatively easy to change.

The potential risks of smoking

Besides being linked to lung cancer and respiratory disease, smoking may contribute to infertility. For example, smoking:

  • Increases the risk of tubal pregnancies
  • Increases the risk of cervical cancer
  • Increases the risk of pelvic infections
  • Is linked to sperm problems in men

Talk to your healthcare provider about the potential impact of smoking on your ability to conceive. Your healthcare provider may also be able to help you find a program to help you to quit smoking.

Trying to quit? Try these tips.

Weight and women's fertility

Being overweight or obese may reduce a woman's fertility. A body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 30.0 or higher is defined as obese. Being obese may:

  • Increase the risk of infertility
  • Cause irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles
  • Increase risk of miscarriage.

For women who are obese, weight loss of 5% to 10% may dramatically improve ovulation and pregnancy rates.

Being underweight can also impact your fertility. For a number of reasons, it’s best to try to keep your BMI within the normal range.

Think before you drink

Alcohol consumption has been shown to affect fertility in both men and women. If you are trying to conceive, consider reducing your alcohol consumption or eliminating it altogether.

For him, at the gym

Sorry guys, but prolonged exposure to high heat from hot baths and steam rooms can lower a man's sperm quality.

Lubricants

Using lubricants such as petroleum jelly or vaginal creams may affect a man's sperm quality.

Worrying may impact fertility

It's not what you want to hear when you're trying to become pregnant, but worrying can make you less likely to conceive.

A recent study surveyed 151 women about their concerns while undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology treatments for infertility. The women who worried about the medical procedure, their finances, or missing work due to the procedure were more likely to produce fewer eggs and had a lower chance of conceiving than the women who didn't worry.1

Consider acupuncture

The jury's still out on the overall impact of acupuncture. But evidence shows that this ancient Chinese technique can reduce stress. This, in turn, can have a positive impact on fertility. Some research shows that acupuncture affects the production of endorphins which play a role in the menstrual cycle. There is also some evidence that acupuncture can increase the flow of blood to the uterus.

Say no to Joe

Or at least consider limiting your caffeine intake. Low to moderate consumption of caffeine (less than 300mg/day, or about 3 cups) does not appear to lower a woman's chance of becoming pregnant. But some studies have suggested that higher amounts may make it harder to conceive. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate.

Be aware of occupational risks

Exposure to toxic substances on the job, such as pesticides, radioactivity, x-rays, and electromagnetic or microwave emissions may lead to sperm abnormalities and other health hazards. If you've been exposed or if you're concerned about occupational hazards, talk to your healthcare provider.

Check your medications

Some drugs for heart disease and high blood pressure may cause infertility in men. If you have questions about your medications, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider.

  • 1. ASRM Bulletin Vol. 6, Number 25. Fertility and Sterility, Worrying Doesn't Help Matters: Women Who Are Very Concerned About Medical Or Professional Implications Of Their IVF Cases Are Less Likely To Get Pregnant.

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Important Considerations:
Gonal-f® RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection) is indicated for the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in the oligo-anovulatory infertile patient in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. Gonal-f® RFF Pen is also indicated for the development of multiple follicles in the ovulatory patient participating in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program. Gonal-f® RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection) should only be prescribed by physicians specializing in fertility or reproductive health. Gonal-f® is a potent gonadotropic substance capable of causing mild to severe adverse reactions, including Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in women with or without pulmonary or vascular complications, and multiple births. Gonal-f® is contraindicated in women who exhibit prior hypersensitivity to FSH preparations, primary gonadal failure, uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal dysfunction and pregnancy. Nursing women should not use Gonal-f®. Common side effects include headache, abdominal pain, enlarged abdomen, and injection site disorders. For complete product details, see full prescribing information.

Important Considerations:
Women: Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) is indicated for the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in the anovulatory infertile patient in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. Gonal-f® is also indicated for the development of multiple follicles in the ovulatory patient participating in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program.
Men: Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) is indicated for the induction of spermatogenesis in men with primary and secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in whom the cause of infertility is not due to primary testicular failure. Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) should only be prescribed by physicians who are thoroughly familiar with infertility problems and their management. Gonal-f® is a potent gonadotropic substance capable of causing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in women with or without pulmonary or vascular complications. Gonal-f® is contraindicated in women and men who exhibit prior hypersensitivity to recombinant FSH preparations or one of their excipients, high levels of FSH indicating primary gonadal failure, uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal dysfunction, sex hormone dependent tumors of the reproductive tract and accessory organs, and an organic intracranial lesion such as a pituitary tumor; and in women who exhibit abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin, ovarian cyst or enlargement of undetermined origin and pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Gonal-f®. The most common side effects in patients using Gonal-f® include headache, ovarian cysts, nausea and upper respiratory infections in women and in men, acne, breast pain and growth, and fatigue. Injection site reactions were also reported. Reports of multiple births have been associated with Gonal-f® treatment. For complete product details, see the full prescribing information.

For complete product details, please read the Prescribing Information offered below.


© EMD Serono, Inc. CIM Last Update 2008-09-16
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