There are several habits that could be harming your fertility without your knowledge. Infertility is not only in women but in men too. Around 40-50% of infertility cases are because of the male in the relationship. Therefore infertility is not just a women’s issue but men’s as well. With the current levels of pollution and chemicals, we’ve all had our share of toxins in our bodies that affect our reproductive health in general. However, there are certain habits that could be harming your infertility.
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Here are some habits that can increase the infertility rate;
Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Moderate consumption of alcohol is unlikely to cause any comprehensive damage to your organs. However excessive alcohol consumption is one of the habits that could be harming your fertility. In women, studies show that excessive consumption of alcohol leads to a decrease in the level of sex hormones. This causes abnormal menstrual cycles in women and ovulation disorders. In Men, excessive alcohol consumption has been known to reduce the sperm count and degrade the quality of the sperm.
Smoking Tobacco
Smoking is known to have negative effects on the reproductive system. This is also one of the habits that could be harming your fertility. In women, smoking tobacco has been known to cause premature aging in the ovaries. It also reduces the overall health of the eggs. It’s harder to get pregnant with eggs that are not healthy and aging ovaries. Smoking women have a higher chance of miscarriages, and ectopic pregnancies. In men cigarette smoking affects the structure of the sperms and is also known to decrease the production of sperms.
Hormonal Imbalance
There are several factors that can cause hormonal imbalance. It occurs because of stress, lack of sleep and so much more. Hormones help run our body’s activities. In women, hormonal imbalance may be caused by additional factors such as birth control products. Hormones influence the production levels of estrogen and progesterone. These can in turn affect ovulation and fertility in women. In men, hormonal imbalance can affect the production of prolactin and estrogen which can cause sperm decrease.
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Mismanaged Weight
Mismanaged weight is being obese, underweight, and overweight among others. Being overweight or obese already comes with several health risks. In women, being overweight affects hormone production. Overweight women also have increased chances of miscarriages and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In men, being overweight has been known to reduce testosterone levels, and reduced sperm quality, and production. It’s important to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index(BMI) to remain fertile.
Sleep
Your body needs to rest and reset for it to function at full capacity. Sleep is how your body rests. One of the habits that could be harming your fertility is your sleeping habit. An unhealthy sleep regimen causes hormonal imbalance, stress, low libido, and weight gain among others. All these factors combined reduce your fertility rates.
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Excessive caffeine consumption
Regular intake of coffee will not do much harm to your reproductive health. However, excessive caffeine consumption of above 400mg per day has been known to cause fertility issues and miscarriages if you’re pregnant. For men, excessive consumption of caffeine can reduce the production rate of sperms. In women, it increases the chances of miscarriages and the movement of eggs from your ovaries to the uterus.
Stress
Stress is unavoidable, however, there are multiple ways we can learn how to manage stress. High-stress levels can affect your fertility rate. Too much stress causes hormonal imbalance. This will eventually cause infertility. Find a way of coping with stress. Consider seeing a therapist to help you deal with stress if it’s out of control.
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Beauty Product Ingredients
Over 50% of what we apply to our skin gets absorbed. You have to be very careful about what you apply to your skin. Beauty products have been known to have harmful ingredients that may cause allergic reactions or have long-term adverse effects like cancer and hormonal imbalance. Here are the beauty product ingredients to avoid.
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Sexual Health
Maintain a clean sexual health sheet by using protection during sex. Unprotected sex increases the chances of getting STDs and STIs. The effects of these diseases have a long-term effect on your reproductive health. They can ruin your fallopian tubes and uterus permanently making you infertile.
Household Chemicals
Chemicals like pesticides, select paint fumes, and pollutants have been known to cause infertility. Any product that contains phthalates has been known to increase the chances of infertility. Studies are yet to reveal the amount of exposure needed to cause infertility. You can choose to stay safe by avoiding certain chemical products.
Over-exercising
Too much of anything is dangerous. While exercising is generally important to maintain a healthy body, overdoing it can have adverse effects. Exercising for more than 5 hours a day every day of the week can cause ovulation issues. It’s also harder to get pregnant if you overexercise.