Almost all of us have heard of infertility, but what does it mean? In simple terms, infertility refers to a person struggling to fall pregnant or remain pregnant. However, infertility is not just a problem for women, men can also suffer from it.
While men cannot get pregnant, they can be considered infertile if they cannot produce enough sperm to make a woman pregnant. But what causes infertility?
There are many possible causes of infertility, from problems with the shape of the uterus to untreated STDs such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. However, these aren’t the only suspected causes. Many scientists and doctors believe that certain health and lifestyle factors can also impact our chances of falling pregnant.
One of these health and lifestyle factors is obesity. If you want to learn about obesity and how it can affect fertility, then keep reading below.
What is Obesity?
Before we discuss whether obesity can cause infertility, we first need to understand what obesity is. The term obesity describes a person who is severely overweight. Anybody who has a BMI of 30 or above is classed as obese.
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a massive increase in the number of people being diagnosed with obesity. In fact, it has now increased to epidemic proportions, with over 4 million people being diagnosed with obesity each year.
Can Obesity Cause Infertility?
There is a tremendous amount of evidence to suggest that obesity can hugely impact a person’s fertility levels. As well as lowering the success rates of getting pregnant, it can also affect a person’s chances of having a healthy baby.
And it’s not just obese women who can have problems with infertility. Obesity can also affect men too. It not only reduces testosterone levels but can also reduce other hormones needed for reproduction. As well as this, it has been found that obese men are more likely to suffer from a low sperm count and low sperm mobility compared to normal-weight men.
The good news is that for most people, obesity can be reversed by living a more healthy and active lifestyle.
Other Factors That Might Increase the Risk of Infertility
As well as obesity, several other health and lifestyle factors could increase the risk of infertility in both men and women. These include:
- Being older than 35
- Radiation or chemotherapy
- Exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides or lead
- Excessive alcohol or drug use
- Smoking cigarettes
- STDs like gonorreha or chlamydia
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Injury to the testes or scrotum
- Wearing tight clothes
- Having an undescended testicle
While infertility is often not discussed, evidence suggests that infertility is a common problem in the US. In fact, thousands of people are diagnosed with infertility each year and several things can cause infertility, from low sperm count to poor egg quality.
As well as this, certain health and lifestyle factors can increase your chances of having fertility problems. This includes things such as obesity and smoking cigarettes. The good news for these individuals is that they can improve their chances of falling pregnant by making healthier lifestyle choices.
