The Fear of Failing: Factors That Can Affect Female Fertility

The chances of fertility treatment success vary widely, since each couple has a unique set of circumstances. Treatment success depends on many factors, especially the age of the female partner.You may not be looking to get pregnant right now, but it's important to understand what can affect your success if you do decide you want to start a family—and what you can do now to prepare.

A senior embryologist and Founder of Indo Nippon IVF, Dr Goral Gandhi helps outline the factors that can help enhance fertility among women, and factors to keep in mind before opting for assisted reproduction treatment.An overview of some of the most common fertility concerns or "factors" are listed below:

Lifestyle Factors

Although a woman's age, genetics, and biology have the greatest impact on her fertility, lifestyle choices like weight, smoking, alcohol intake or caffeine play an equally important role. According to the ASRM, up to 13% of infertility may be attributed to tobacco intake. Other factors, such as weighing extreme on the scale (underweight or overweight), or having an irregular sleep cycle, could also affect fertility by creating a hormone imbalance.

However, adopting a healthy diet including supplements known to improve reproductive health can lead to a healthy ovulation. Dieticians often recommend intake of organic foods and cold water fish such as salmon, along with whole grains, and freshly squeezed fruit juices for couples who are trying to conceive.

Age Factor

One of the most important factors determining a women's ability to conceive is her biological age. "A woman's eggs age with her, decreasing in quality and quantity. This is why age is a detrimental factor when it comes to a woman's fertility. While good health improves the chance of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby, it does not override the effects of age on a woman's fertility," says Dr Goral Gandhi.

However, IVF has proven to be an effective treatment option for older women who want to get pregnant through egg freezing or cryopreservation.

Genetics

There are some individuals that might be prone to a genetic condition that may either stunt sperm cell development or make it nearly impossible for an embryo to successfully implant or develop normally in the uterus. Studies estimate that approximately 50 percent of infertility cases are caused by genetic issues. Family history plays a defining role when it comes to certain conditions that cause infertility.

"Age of menopause runs in families—so if a mom went through menopause at 40 (average age being 51), her daughter would have a somewhat higher chance of having an early menopause—meaning a slowing down of fertility earlier on," explains Goral Gandhi, one of the best embryologist in Mumbai.

One of the best things you can do is understand your family fertility history, so that you can proactively manage your fertility health. Ask your female relatives about their experience with menopause and fertility—if one or more of them hit menopause prematurely or had difficulty conceiving, you're at risk.

Medical Conditions

Infertility can result from underlying hormonal issues as well. Hormones are varied, unseen, and interactive, so evaluating a possible hormonal imbalance and its potential impact on fertility can be challenging. Dr. Goral Gandhi further explains,"Damage to reproductive organs or even certain medical treatments can jeopardize a woman's fertility. Be it the pelvic inflammatory disease, PCOS, or endometriosis (a disorder causing swelling, cysts, or blockages that might prevent pregnancy)"

However, in many cases where medications do not respond to traditional fertility treatment, IVF treatment may provide the highest chance of success.Some women may have medical conditions that can affect their fertility. These may or may not be known about while starting to try for a family. Some of these conditions may be general, for example thyroid disease and Vitamin D deficiency, whilst others may be more specific, for example, polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.

Whether you're thinking about getting pregnant or have been trying to conceive, it's never too early (or too late) to evaluate what factors affect your fertility the most. Adopting healthy habits and getting rid of unhealthy ones can measurably improve your overall fertility health. Also, some lifestyle changes may promote/demote fertility in both the partners.