And yes, to answer that question that is undoubtedly on the tip of your tongue right now, there are certain risk factors, as the medical community likes to call them, that would make some individuals more susceptible to this condition than other individuals. And some of them may be rather surprising and -- at the very least -- eye opening to you!
Age,
The first risk factor is age. Once a woman reaches a certain age, her fertility potential gradually declines. And believe it or not, it's at a relatively young age -- 30! That's not to say that you'll never get pregnant once you hit this magic marker. That's far from the truth. But it does make the process harder for some people.
This tendency toward age-related infertility may be due to a higher rate of problems with the chromosomes occurring naturally in the eggs as they age. But, consider also that as a woman ages, she may have more general health problems which interfere with the ability to conceive.
Another fact to keep in mind as well is that as a woman ages her risk of miscarriage increases.
While I've only mentioned women, the same can be said for men. As a man ages, he may be less fertile than his younger counterparts. For men, this seems to occur once he reaches his fortieth birthday.
Cigarette smoking.
Another risk factor for infertility involves smoking tobacco. Both men and women who smoke cigarettes appear to reduce the odds of getting pregnant. Not only that, but if they smoke while they are receiving fertility treatment, this also affects the chances of the treatments effectiveness.
And along those same lines, miscarriages more frequently occur in women who smoke than those who do.
Drinking alcohol.
Alcohol may also play a role in contributing to infertility. I'm not going to beat around the bush here. Once you're pregnant there is absolutely no "safe" limit on drinking. Even a little alcohol is too much.
The same, you may be surprised to learn, goes for the period in which you're trying to get pregnant. If you've been attempting to conceive, but you haven't sworn off drinking yet -- even if you drink only a little -- give it up completely to increase your chances of having a baby.
Weight.
And I'm not just talking overweight here! If you're either overweight or underweight, this may indeed interfere with your chances of getting pregnant. For many women -- especially in the United States - infertility is, in part, due to the sedentary lifestyle and the corresponding problem of being overweight.
The same though can be said for men. A man's sperm count may be adversely affected by his carrying extra pounds.
If you're underweight, you may also experience problems with conception. This is especially true of women who are plagued with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
But you may also find it difficult to get pregnant if you've put yourself on any severe, calorie-restrictive diet as well.
Even women who are vegans seem to be at a greater risk of not being capable of getting pregnant. For these women, it's very often the lack of a specific nutrient, like vitamin B-12, folic acid, zinc, or iron which is causing the problem.
Excessive exercise.
Okay! Okay! You say. If I sit around all day and eat candy increase my risk of not being able to get pregnant. Now, you tell me that if I exercise too much, I may not be able to conceive, too!
As confusing as it may sounds, yes! But, let's get this straight, it's not that half hour walk that you should be taking daily that's hindering your ability to have a baby.
Several clinical studies indicate that a woman who spends more than seven hours a week exercising may have problems with ovulation. If you exercise that much, consult your physician to see if that could be an obstacle.
Caffeine.
Currently, this seems to be an ongoing debate within the medical profession. Could too many caffeinated drinks be associated with a greater risk of infertility?
It's still an open question.
On the one hand, several studies have shown that fertility decreases when caffeine intake climbs. Other studies have shown no such correlation. One thing seems fairly certain: if there is a correlation, it affects women more than men. And, no, increased caffeine consumption, but the way plays no part in the incidence of miscarriages.
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