Alarming Lifestyle Factors Fertility and Infertility Research Findings
Research consistently shows that lifestyle factors have profound effects on fertility in both men and women. What people eat, how they sleep, where they work, what substances they consume, and what chemicals they are exposed to all influence reproductive health in measurable ways. According to the Mayo Clinic, infertility affects approximately one in six couples, and lifestyle factors fertility research suggests that many of these cases may be influenced by modifiable behaviors and environmental exposures.
How Weight and Exercise Affect Lifestyle Factors Fertility Outcomes
Body weight is one of the most well documented lifestyle factors fertility researchers have identified. Obesity in men is linked to lower sperm count and reduced sperm quality. Among obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome, losing just 5% of body weight significantly improves the likelihood of ovulation and pregnancy. At the other extreme, being underweight is associated with ovarian dysfunction and infertility in women.
Physical activity also plays a role. Excessive exercise is known to disrupt ovulation and reduce fertility in women, while strenuous physical labor has been shown to reduce sperm count in men. The relationship between activity level and reproductive health is not linear, making balance a key consideration in lifestyle factors fertility management.
Substance Use and Medications as Lifestyle Factors in Fertility
Substance use is among the most consistently documented lifestyle factors fertility researchers have identified across both sexes. Smoking tobacco, using other tobacco products, marijuana use, heavy alcohol consumption, and use of illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine are all associated with reduced fertility in both men and women.
Medications also matter. Body building drugs and androgens are known to affect sperm formation. Taking multiple medications simultaneously is associated with reduced sperm count. High blood pressure alters the shape of sperm, further reducing male fertility. These findings underscore the importance of reviewing all substances and medications with a healthcare provider when fertility is a concern.
Environmental Chemicals as Lifestyle Factors Fertility Risks
Environmental exposures represent an increasingly recognized category of lifestyle factors fertility researchers are studying. Persistent organic pollutants, chemicals used in industrial processes that remain in the environment long after use, have been linked in animal studies to impaired fertility. NICHD’s Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment, the LIFE Study, is the only research effort to measure chemical exposures in both partners simultaneously while following couples attempting to conceive for one year.
The LIFE Study has produced several significant lifestyle factors fertility findings. Certain organochlorine pesticides and many polychlorinated biphenyls were linked to increased time to pregnancy and decreased couple fecundity. Other studies have connected dioxin exposure, polybrominated diethers, and perfluorochemicals to reduced fertility.
How Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Affect Reproductive Health
Endocrine disrupting chemicals, known as EDCs, alter the function of the hormonal system in ways that directly affect fertility. The LIFE Study found that the EDC methylparaben affects fertility in women, while phthalates and the UV filter benzophenone-2 affect fertility in men. Notably, many chemicals only affected time to pregnancy when found at high levels in the male partner, while others only affected fecundity when detected in the female partner.
Other environmental exposures including radiation therapy and chemotherapy can cause infertility in both females and males. Those who must undergo these treatments may benefit from discussing fertility preservation options with their healthcare provider before beginning treatment.
What This Research Means for Reproductive Health
Understanding which lifestyle factors fertility outcomes are sensitive to gives individuals and couples meaningful opportunities to improve their chances of conception through behavioral changes. Reducing substance use, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting exposure to environmental chemicals, and reviewing medication use are all evidence based steps supported by NIH research.
FOMAT conducts Phase I through Phase IV clinical research across a national network of investigator sites throughout the United States. To learn more about active women’s health and reproductive studies, visit our patient active studies page.