How to protect the couple's fertility

I’m not ready for kids: Why should I care about my fertility?

It is actually so important to take care of your general health since a young age, because unhealthy behaviours you engage even years before you are ready to have children can impact your future chances to conceive.

Cigarette smoking, Marijuana

Smoking decreases both women’s and men’s fertility.

About 13% of female infertility in UK is caused by cigarette smoking.

Menopause occurs at least two years earlier in women who smoke.

Research suggests that marijuana can have a negative effect on fertility for both men and women and can create problems when a woman uses marijuana while pregnant.

Marijuana use has been associated with testicular atrophy, low libido, sexual dysfunction, and lower levels of various hormones required for reproduction, including testosterone.

In addition, cannabis use has been associated with reductions in sperm count and concentration, abnormalities in sperm morphology, reductions in sperm motility and viability, and decreases in fertilizing capacity

There is a decrease in fertility with advancing age.

Weight

12% of all infertility cases are due to women weighing too little or too much.

Sexually transmitted infections

Bacteria such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomonas, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma are a leading cause of male and female infertility.

These infections most often do not cause any symptoms.

«I’m a guy--I thought this was a woman’s issue?”

Male infertility accounts for nearly half of all diagnosed cases of infertility.

Steroids, smoking and alcohol

Drugs such as steroids, cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol can negatively impact your health in many ways, including greatly affecting your virility, leading to abnormally shaped sperm, decreased sperm motility and/or decreased sperm production.

Exposure to heat

While it may sound peculiar, prolonged exposure to high heat, such as that of a hot tub, can affect your fertility by lowering sperm production.

In addition, men whose occupations require long hours of sitting or who wear heat retaining clothes also experience decreased sperm production.

Sexually trasmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) don’t just affect women’s fertility.

STIs such as Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Trichomonas, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are a leading cause of male infertility, often have no symptoms, and can be prevented by always using condoms.

These infections are also transmitted through oral or anal sex.