There are a lot of factors that may cause infertility, including genetic problems, illness, anatomical problems, or other medical conditions. However, not many realize that a person's lifestyle choices can be the most imminent cause of infertility. Reproductive health habits play a significant role in determining one's fertility and overall reproductive well-being.

The majority of women nowadays led a schedule-packed day-to-day life. This can easily lead to making poor choices in lifestyle which often comes as an exchange for convenience. Everyone will agree that ordering takeouts from fast-food restaurants saves you so much time and trouble than actually cooking your own dinner after a long tiring day. This is just one of the examples of not so healthy lifestyle choices in your daily life.

5 Things Women Do That Harm Their Fertility

Dietary Habits

The first suggestion that you will get when trying to get pregnant is to manage your weight. But your dietary choices are not limited to just losing weight. Consuming a well-balanced diet can boost your hormone system and increase the likelihood of healthy egg(s) production during ovulation. A healthy weight and diet can also decrease the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is time to make some changes to your daily diet. You can start by reducing or abstaining from these few foods listed below:

No more junk food  

The likes of snacks, processed foods and fast foods need to be consumed less or none at all. It is high time to switch to healthier snacks like nuts and fruits.

Less caffeine

Sadly, coffee is not good to have when trying to get pregnant. You either lay off caffeine entirely or reduce your intake to one cup per day. Be aware that switching to decaffeinated coffee won’t help as decaf coffee still contains caffeine and other chemicals that might cause bowel problems.

Reduce your sugar consumption

Consumption of sugary drinks and delicacies needs to be monitored and reduce. High blood sugar levels can lead to insulin resistance which is one of the causes of PCOS and one step away from the danger of diabetes.

Unhealthy Lifestyle - Smoking, Alcohol and Illicit Drugs

Smoking, drinking and illicit drugs are never good for your body as they weaken your immune system and cause ovulation disorders. There is no safe limit for smoking, drinking and illicit drugs intakes. You will have to lay off consumption entirely to increase your chance of having a baby.

Excessive Exercise

Regular exercise and healthy diets are the important keys to having good fertility health. However, excessive exercise can give you the reverse effect on your fertility. Overexercise can have an impact on your hormone system and ovulation cycle which may cause infertility. It is advisable to do moderately-intense exercises not more than five hours a week. Remember that things are always better done in moderation, the same goes for exercise. 

Exposure to Toxins

Frankly speaking, the blame is on our environment. The world we live in now is surrounded by numerous environmental toxins. Most people are not even aware of how much their domestic products are among those toxins that are harmful to their bodies and reproductive system – their fertility. 

Below are the most common environmental toxins in our everyday life:

1. BPA and its substitute which are widely used in plastic products.
2. Pesticides used on the fresh produce.
3. Mercury in fishes like tuna and swordfish.
4. Parabens and benzophenone in personal care products like sunscreen and soap.
5. Toxins elements in the daily cleaning products.

Most of the environmental toxins we are exposed to are hard to eliminate, therefore your best option is to reduce them as much as possible. Try simple tricks like switching cleaning products to non-toxins, using baits instead of pesticides and exchanging plastic containers with stainless steel whenever possible. If you are preparing or undergoing fertility treatment, avoid smoking and being around smokers as these two are the most toxic of all.

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is a combination of physical and psychological stress. It is a prolonged condition that will affect your mental and physical wellbeing. A study has suggested that women dealing with infertility may have the same level of anxiety and depression as HIV or cancer patients. Although it is not clear how stress can cause infertility, women with anxiety and depression are finding it harder to conceive or to carry their pregnancy to term. 

So, what can you do to get through these difficult waters? 

1. Practice relaxation techniques such as muscle relaxations, deep breathing, meditation and imagery. It is important to get into a relaxation state before you can start trying to deal with the stress. 
2. Learn about your infertility as humans tend to get anxious when facing something we do not understand. Getting more information about your conditions can help you to come to terms with your struggles.
3. Communicate your stress and feelings to your partner. Share your concerns and talk about how you can support each other. 
4. Take care of your health and deal with sexual stress. Make sex less of a baby-making mission but a fun couple activity.