What influences fertility?
According to the Department of Health, one in six Australian couples experiences fertility issues. In addition, infertility in Australia is rising. Please read on below to learn about a number of social and medical factors that may influence this.
Certain social and medical factors can influence fertility
Having children later in life
For various reasons, women may choose to have children later in life. It may take longer to complete formal education; they may want to establish themselves in their career first; they may wait for their partner/spouse to become ready; or they may experience recurrent health issues which may prevent them from becoming pregnant.
According to the 2015 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Report, women are increasingly having children at a later age. Fewer women under the age of 25 are giving birth whereas more women after the age of 35 are deciding to conceive. While it is possible for a women over the age of 35 to conceive, the chance of producing healthy eggs does decrease. A poor quality egg is less likely to develop in a healthy embryo or to implant in the uterus.
With age, endometriosis and fibroids can also play a role in diminishing a women’s fertility. As these two conditions are quite common, I have decided to include a short explanation. Endometriosis is a painful condition which causes the lining of the uterus called endometrium to grow in pelvic organs outside the uterus such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes as well as the tissue lining the woman’s pelvis. With each menstrual cycle, the endometrium growing outside the uterus will behave exactly the same as the endometrium inside the uterus - it will thicken, bleed, and break down, causing cysts, formation of scar tissue, and heavy bleeding. It can be quite painful, especially during the period.
Fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus which can range in size and number. Often, a woman may not even be aware she has got them as they may not cause any symptoms. If a woman does have symptoms, they will be influenced by the size, number, and location of the fibroid(s). Some of the symptoms are: pelvic pressure or pain, prolonged menstrual bleeding lasting more than a week, heavy bleeding during menstrual periods, frequent urination, constipation, backache, low red blood cell count etc. Should a woman experience heavy vaginal bleeding or sharp pelvic pain, prompt medical care is required.
Environmental factors may reduce fertility
Establishing a direct link between fertility and environmental factors is not easy. There is a gap in our knowledge. More research is required to fully understand the impact of environmental factors on fertility, environmental pollutants, radiation, chemotherapy etc. I have already spoken about how after the age of 35, the quality of the woman’s eggs is likely to deteriorate. However, it is also true that the quality of the men’s sperm may also deteriorate after the age of 40. In addition, environmental factors such as using laptops, overheating as well as the presence of micro- and microplastic in the water we drink and the food we eat could also have a negative impact.
Lifestyle factors also play a role
Lifestyle factors such as sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, being overweight or underweight, and excessive alcohol and drug use can also impact women’s fertility. In addition, inadequate exposure to sunlight may also be a contributing factor. Even in a sunny country such as Australia, this can happen, especially during winter time, when days are shorter, more so in workplaces which do not have windows and rely on artificial lighting. I will talk about this in more detail in my own fertility story.
