Fertility and the way you live go hand in hand. Here are few factors that can affect your fertility chances:

  1. Obesity– Those extra pounds can have an impact on your hormone production, making it more difficult to conceive. When a woman is overweight, her ovaries are less likely to work the way they’re supposed to. Obese women are also more likely to develop PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) wherein a woman has an excess of the androgen hormone, which causes hormonal imbalance. Research suggests that obese men have a lower sperm count than men of healthy weight. Moreover, men who are overweight are more likely to have erectile dysfunction.
  2. Over exercising– Just like lack of exercising, even over exercising is bad for your fertility. Medical research suggests that women who over exercise may lose body fat. This can affect the estrogen levels and cause irregularity in menstruation or even stop menstruation, both of which can cause fertility related issues. Over exercising can also cause infertility in men.
  1. Smoking- Smoking adversely affects each stage of the reproduction process, be it egg and sperm quality, DNA integrity and maturation or environment in the uterus. Smoking makes a woman’s eggs more prone to genetic abnormalities and also increases the risk of miscarriage. If the woman’s partner is also a smoker, he should quit it since smoking lowers sperm count and also motility and increases risk of miscarriage.
  1. Stress- Stress adversely affects fertility and anything that relieves it is to be encouraged. Women under extreme stress may ovulate less regularly, making it more difficult to plan for a baby. Alternative therapies like reflexology, homeopathy, acupuncture and yoga – can be ideal stress busters as is exercise.
  1. Drinking heavily- Even moderate consumption of alcohol may lower fertility. Research suggests that men who drink regularly have lower sperm motility. Heavy drinking in women is associated with an increased risk of ovulation disorders. Abstinence from alcohol is recommended if you are planning for a baby and during pregnancy.