How can lifestyle factors affect fertility?
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Leading Chichester-based consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Ms Neelima Dixit explains the different factors that can affect fertility.
How can lifestyle affect fertility?
Your lifestyle is an important factor in your fertility. It is something that you should consider when trying for a baby.
One such factor is weight. In women, obesity is associated with an increased risk of almost all pregnancy complications including miscarriage, stillbirth, gestational diabetes, and difficulty with labour and birth. Overweight women can also struggle to ovulate regularly without assistance.
However, it is also important not to fall into the trap of rapid weight loss. Rapid dieting can be detrimental to long-term reproductive health. Weight loss should be achieved sensibly and slowly so that the weight stays off.
Being underweight also has significant effects on ovulation as well, and, if pregnancy is achieved, can be associated with growth restriction in the baby.
Men are also not off the ...
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