Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, stress, and occupational and environmental toxins can all affect fertility in both men and women. The good news is that simple new tests can determine if these factors are negatively affecting your fertility:
Diet – Any diet that severely restricts—or promotes—the consumption of fats, carbohydrates or proteins can through off the body’s nutritional balance. Aggressive calorie-restricted diets can too. Insulin/glucose intolerance may also be a condition you may have developed that can impact fertility.
Exercise – Moderate exercise on most days of the week is a good rule of thumb for any healthy, active adult. However, excessive training forces the body to put more resources into “healing” and building muscle tissue than it would normally do otherwise.
Stress – Medicine has long noted a link between emotion and health. Job turmoil, the death of a loved one, even travel that results in jet lag and a lack of sleep can put undue stress on the body affect conception.
Toxins – The world we live in is full of toxins both on the job, in our recreational hours and in our diets. Auto mechanics, hair stylists, dry cleaning workers and anyone who works with glues or solvents are particularly at risk of suffering adverse affects. Hobbies that use glue, such as model builders or auto racers, are likewise prone to affected fertility. The use of drugs or alcohol, as well as excessive use of caffeine, can also negatively impact the ability to conceive a healthy baby.
New tests allow doctors to determine if lifestyle factors may be a cause of infertility.Dr. Zarutskie will be discussing this more in depth during a special presentation on Thursday, August 23 at 6 pm at the Zarutskie Fertility & Endocrine Institute. For reservations, call (949) 448-7818.
