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Factors Affecting Reproductive Health

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, approximately 10 percent of couples in the United States suffer from infertility as of 2011. There is a direct link between a person's overall health and reproductive health. Several things affect reproductive health and in most cases, these factors are controllable.

  1. Environment and Behavior

    • The environment in which a woman lives affects her fertility. Exposure to chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and industrial solvents affect estrogen levels, leading to issues in the reproductive system. Lifestyle and behavior also play a role. A woman who smokes might have ovary damage, begin menopause earlier in life or have less eggs available for conception. Stress is another factor and if severe enough, can halt menstruation.

    Nutrition

    • Diet plays an important role in fertility health. In 2008, researchers at Queens University in Ireland reported that diabetic men requiring insulin have sperm with abnormal DNA. The disease also leads to impotence and retrograde ejaculation, which is when sperm is ejaculated into the bladder instead of through the penis. Vitamin D deficiencies are also believed to contribute to infertility. A 1999 study at Columbia University gave 13 women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome vitamin D and calcium supplements. Seven saw regulated changes in their menstrual cycles and two became pregnant.

    Weight

    • The fertility of both men and women are affected by weight. Women who are overweight have ovulation problems, irregular periods, polycystic ovaries, abnormal insulin response and an imbalance in estrogen levels. Some overweight men suffer from low testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction. Underweight women might not ovulate. This is a common problem among those with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.

    Age

    • A woman's age plays a major role in her ability to conceive. Fertility begins declining in the mid-30s and a woman's ovaries produce fewer eggs. The quality of these eggs is less than that of a woman in her 20s. Women nearing menopause have a higher risk of producing eggs with chromosomal abnormalities, which might lead to birth defects and miscarriage.

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