Most of the information about how lifestyle affects fertility focuses on females. While male lifestyle choices may affect fertility, there is less research on how mens’ lifestyle habits impact pregnancies or births.
Studies show that choices made before and during pregnancy impact fertility and the fetus that a woman carries. Lifestyle, age and diet all have a significant impact and we encourage you to read our blog about the role of diet and nutrition in fertility.
If you are considering in vitro fertilization (IVF) or another fertility procedure, do not rule out a successful pregnancy just because of your age or lifestyle. At Caperton Fertility Institute, we have helped many women and their partners achieve their dream of a successful pregnancy.
The lifestyle that the woman leads is a major factor in successfully conceiving a child. Smoking and alcohol consumption are two primary factors that affect fertility, and the obesity epidemic in the United States plays a definite role as well. It also appears that environmental toxins are playing an increasing role in infertility due to more exposure to endocrine disruptors like plastics, hydrocarbons (things like gas that smell in the air), pesticides, and heavy metals.
Smoking lowers the likelihood of a woman’s conception. Women who smoke are 60% less likely to conceive than those who do not smoke, according to Augood et al, as published in FertilityIQ.com.(1) The American Society for Reproductive Medicine cites studies that even smoking one-half pack per day consistently ties to decreased fertility.(5) Smoking also increases the likelihood that an IVF will fail(1) and even second-hand smoke has been shown to have a negative effect on fertility.(2) A German study shows that IVF cycles have lower pregnancy rates when the man smokes, even if the woman does not.(1)
At Caperton Fertility, we urge a thoughtful discussion about alcohol consumption while trying to conceive. Most data suggest that a woman can have a drink or two per day while trying to conceive naturally without harming her odds of success.(1) However, self-reporting of alcohol use in the United States is not very accurate, so consider carefully the risks that you are taking by continuing this habit. The myth that alcohol use is “healthy” in some way has been de-bunked by almost all current literature. In reality, alcohol is an addictive poison that has health risks, likely impacts longevity, and has been heavily marketed to you since your youth so that you will purchase and consume it. For those about to undergo an IVF treatment, we recommend no, or very limited, alcohol consumption. Some studies show that consuming alcohol very close to the time of treatment has a negative effect, for example, having one extra glass of wine per day leading up to IVF treatment could make failure 4-6 times more likely.(1)
Weight, based on BMI or body mass index, can also affect fertility.(4) Being under or overweight can lead to irregular menstrual cycles or anovulation,(2) can impact the quality of a woman’s eggs and potentially, the quality of the uterine lining which impacts the ability to successfully carry a pregnancy to term.(1) Likewise, if a man is under or overweight, a Norwegian study found that the quality of his sperm may also be impacted.(1)
Women within the ideal BMI of 19 and 25 have the highest IVF success rate. Today, science shows that women who are obese (those with a BMI of 30 or more) have a massively reduced chance of pregnancy, as well as a significantly increased risk of miscarriage. In addition, the risks of pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, hypertension, blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and pre-term delivery, are dramatically increased. At CFI, we also follow strict guidelines for putting overweight patients under anesthesia for procedures in the office, because of an increased risk of complications from office-based anesthesia.
At CFI, we take a structured approach to weight loss and the management of the metabolic disease of obesity, including the consideration of medical therapy and gastric surgery when indicated for overweight patients who want to become pregnant.
We believe that weight loss is achieved through diet, and if your physician approves, we typically recommend a low-carb or keto diet to effect rapid weight loss (30-60 grams of carbs and 1200 calories per day). The most important aspect of dieting and all self-care is to create lasting habits that are not perceived as “ruining your life” but as decisions that you’ve chosen in order to extend your life expectancy, increase your health and your likelihood of conceiving a child.
Exercise is also a component that affects fertility. Engage in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises before, during, and after pregnancy, as long as your fertility doctor agrees. Shoot for at least 150 minutes per week (approximately 20 minutes per day).(3) You can use the “talk test” to determine the level of exertion. If you can carry on a conversation while exercising, you are likely not overexerting yourself.(3)
While your doctor’s recommendation should always be followed, physical activity in normal pregnancies has minimal risks, but may need to be modified for anatomic and physiologic changes and fetal requirements.(3)
If you are experiencing infertility, please schedule a consultation with the Caperton Fertility Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico or El Paso, Texas. Our fertility specialists are board-certified, ranked among the nation’s Top 3% of physicians nationally, and offer compassionate, state-of-the-art fertility treatments to all who seek to start a family.
Source List
(1) https://www.fertilityiq.com/courses/lifestyle-choices-fertility-impact-diet-supplements-exercise-drinking-coffee-smoking/lesson-plan
(2) https://www.reproductivefacts.org/resources/educational-videos/videos/asrmsart-micro-videos/videos/preparing-for-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-lifestyle-factors—-a-patient-education-micro-video/
(3) https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publications/Practice-Guidelines-and-Reports-Search?Keyword=lifestyle
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6079277/
(5) https://www.asrm.org/globalassets/asrm/asrm-content/news-and-publications/practice-guidelines/for-non-members/smoking_and_infertility-pdfnoprint2.pdf