Things That Make Women Less Fertile
Have you been trying to conceive and have been unsuccessful so far? A few things could be making you less fertile. So watch out for these few fertility warning signs.
Have you been trying to conceive and have been unsuccessful so far? A few things could be making you less fertile. So watch out for these few fertility warning signs.
Your BMI is low: You need a healthy amount of body fat for proper hormone function. If your BMI is too low, you may not have optimal hormone function for reproduction. A study published in the journal Obstetrics Gynaecology showed that women with lower BMI took longer to conceive than women with a higher BMI [1].
You do not get enough sleep: Lack of sleep is associated with reduced leptin levels that regulate your menstrual cycle. Low leptin concentrations have also been linked to poor egg quality suggests a study published in the Journal of Society for Reproduction and Fertility [2]. So make sure that you get enough shut-eye to promote fertility.
You drink alcohol regularly: Daily consumption of alcohol can hinder your ability to conceive. According to a study published in the Journal Fertility and Sterility, regular consumption of alcohol can decrease the probability of conception by 50% [3]. That doesn’t mean you cannot have a glass of wine once a while. Moderation is always the key.
Your workout routine is high-intensity: Yes, moderate exercising can increase fertility rate but performing high-intensity exercises 'almost every day and exercising to the level of exhaustion' can increase your risk of infertility. Although it cannot be concluded from this study, it seems likely that fertility may be positively affected by physical activity up to a certain level after which the energy requirements of the activity outweigh the positive effects, resulting in infertility, suggests a study published in the Journal Human Reproduction [4].
Your menstrual cycle is short: It’s good if you have a 28-day cycle but if it is less than that it can be a warning sign. A 28-day cycle gives a lot of time for the egg to mature and support implantation. In a study published in the Fertility and Sterility Journal, a shorter menstrual cycle can decrease your chances of conception by 50% [5].