Infertility, defined by WHO as the failure of the reproductive system to achieve a pregnancy after a year or more of regular unprotected intercourse. It has become a common health concern affecting millions of couples worldwide. While medical conditions can certainly play a significant role, emerging research suggests that lifestyle factors also have a substantial impact on fertility, both in men and women. Knowing these lifestyle factors can empower individuals to make informed choices to enhance their fertility potential.

How Men's Habits Affect Fertility?

1. Smoking: Lighting up cigarettes can hurt a guy's chances of becoming a dad. Smoking can make his sperm weaker, slower, and even mess up their shape. This makes it harder for them to swim to meet the egg.
2. Drinking Too Much Alcohol: Having too many drinks can mess with a man's hormones and make his sperm less healthy. It can also cause problems like trouble getting or keeping an erection, which can make it tough to make a baby.
3. Being Overweight: Carrying around extra weight can make it harder for a man's body to make healthy sperm. It can also mess with his hormones and lower his chances of achieving pregnancy with his partner.
4. Feeling Stressed Out: Stress isn't just bad for the mind; it's bad for sperm too. When a guy is super stressed, his body can make less testosterone, which is a hormone he needs to make healthy sperm.
5. Not Eating Well: Eating a lot of junk food instead of healthy stuff can make it harder for a guy's body to make good sperm. Eating healthy foods like fruits, veggies, and lean meats can help keep his sperm strong.

How Women's Habits Affect Fertility?

1. Smoking: Just like with men, smoking can make it harder for women to have a baby by causing infertility in women. It can mess with a woman's eggs and even make it more likely for her to have a miscarriage if she does get pregnant.
2. Drinking Too Much Alcohol: Too many drinks can mess with a woman's hormones and make it harder for her to get pregnant. It can also cause problems like irregular periods or not releasing eggs when she's supposed to.
3. Being Overweight: Being overweight can make it tough for a woman's body to release eggs regularly. It can also cause problems like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can make it harder to get pregnant.
4. Feeling Stressed Out: Stress can mess with a woman's hormones and make it harder for her body to release eggs. Finding ways to relax, like taking deep breaths or doing yoga, can help lower stress levels and make it easier to conceive.
5. Not Eating Well: Eating lots of unhealthy foods can mess with a woman's hormones and make it harder for her to get pregnant. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains can help keep her hormones in check and make it easier to conceive.

Medications Used to treat fertility problems

Doctors use different medicines to help people who have trouble getting pregnant. These medicines target specific problems that make conception difficult.

1. Clomiphene Citrate: This medicine helps women ovulate more regularly, increasing their chances of getting pregnant.
2. Letrozole: Similar to clomiphene citrate, letrozole also encourages ovulation by adjusting certain hormone levels.
3. Gonadotropins: These medicines contain special hormones that directly stimulate ovulation, especially helpful for women who haven't had success with other medications. For example,Humog 75IU Injection, containing Menotrophin, is a medication classified as a gonadotropin, known for stimulating ovulation. Composed of a purified blend of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), it mimics natural hormones found in both men and women, aiding normal reproductive function. Primarily, Humog 75IU Injection is prescribed to address infertility in females who do not ovulate, including those with polycystic ovarian disease resistant to clomiphene citrate treatment. Additionally, it assists in inducing multiple follicles, thus enhancing fertility for women undergoing IVF or other assisted conception methods. Moreover, it is effective in treating infertility in male caused by low sperm count.

4. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): Used alongside other medications, hCG helps release mature eggs for procedures like IUI or IVF.
5. Metformin: Primarily used for managing insulin problems in women with PCOS, metformin also helps regulate periods and improve ovulation.
6. Bromocriptine or Cabergoline: These medicines lower high prolactin levels in women with specific conditions affecting ovulation.
7. Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Agonists: Used for conditions like endometriosis, these medications balance hormones to promote regular ovulation.

Conclusion

While infertility can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, lifestyle factors play a significant role in both male and female fertility. Making positive lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, moderating alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, and adopting a nutritious diet, can improve fertility outcomes for couples trying to conceive. And, seeking guidance from healthcare professionals and fertility specialists can provide personalized advice and support on optimizing lifestyle factors to enhance fertility potential. By taking care of these modifiable factors, individuals can take proactive steps towards achieving their dream of parenthood.