Private MD News

Many women have lifestyle factors that impair fertility

Category: Infertitlity Hormone Testing

Unhealthy lifestyle factors may be a primary reason why many women receive FSH test results indicating they have impaired fertility. A new study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing indicates that the vast majority of women who seek treatment at fertility clinics have potentially serious health risk factors.

For the study, a team of researchers from the University Medical Center in the Netherlands surveyed more than 100 women who were undergoing pre-fertility treatment counseling. The results showed that 96 percent of these individuals had three or more problems that may have impaired their ability to conceive, including bacterial infections, obesity and drug or alcohol use.

Furthermore, the study showed that many women were not interested in changing the fertility problems that were within their ability to control. More than 15 percent obese women had no plans to try to lose weight and 30 percent of smokers did not intend to quit.

The researchers said the findings indicate that preconception care should become a more standardized part of fertilization treatments. This may help more women understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle before trying to become pregnant.