Factors Affecting Future Fertility

Even if a baby is not in your immediate future, it is good to be aware of factors that can affect your future fertility.

During pregnancy, most women do everything they can to protect their babies, but poor lifestyle choices and other factors can also affect your ability to conceive. To protect fertility and boost the chances of having a baby one day, it is important to begin ditching those bad habits now.

FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE FERTILITY

Of course, there are a number of medical issues that limit fertility including ovulatory problems, endometriosis, scarring from previous pelvic surgery, uterine abnormalities and more that are beyond your control. But the following are steps you can take today to preserve your future fertility:

• Stop smoking – just as smoking makes your skin look older, it also ages your ovaries and impacts egg supply. Kicking the habit is not only good for your overall health, it is a fertility- friendly choice
• Maintain a normal weight – obesity is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that can cause infertility. Being too thin can also cause disruptions in menstruation and make it more difficult to get pregnant until body fat increases
• Limit the liquor – heavy drinking is linked to ovulatory disorders. Stick to the “no more than one drink a day” rule for women
• Avoid exposure to environment toxins –most of us are constantly exposed to synthetic chemicals that can linger in body tissue for years, negatively impacting fertility. While it is not possible to avoid all toxins, women working in hair salons, dry cleaners, manufacturing plants that use chemicals and other high-risk professions should talk to their doctors about ways to limit expose
• Skip risky sex –unprotected sex and multiple partners increase your risk for contracting a sexually transmitted bacterial infection, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. These infections can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, a condition that contributes to infertility. Particularly when not properly treated, STDs can damage the fallopian tubes and lead to long-term reproductive health problems so it’s best to limit partners and be diligent about condom usage

If you dream of one day becoming a mother, taking care of your health today is the best way to avoid factors that could affect your fertility in the future.