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Have you ever thought about your lifestyle? Well, our lifestyle impacts many areas, and that couldn’t be different with fertility. Our habits and our choices reflect on our body and, therefore, on the importance of leading a healthy life so that the body can work effectively.
Depending on our choices, the impacts will be positive or negative. Dealing with excesses is also part of these choices and everything must be well thought out when planning to get pregnant.
Some habits like drinking alcohol frequently or smoking are part of the life of some women. But do you know what are the impacts that alcohol and smoking have on your fertility? And during pregnancy? Come on then, check it out!
Alcohol consumption
A national passion, alcohol is part of the daily lives of many people in our country. Whether at a happy hour after work, or at the weekend at a barbecue, alcohol consumption is present in all spheres and social classes of Brazilians.
Although there is not much research on the subject yet, it is known that alcohol intake is associated with decreased fertility, especially among women who drink alcohol excessively, that is, more than 07 drinks per week. This habit is usually related to symptoms such as menstrual dysregulation including amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps) and irregular menstrual periods. Even a more moderate consumption of alcohol, such as up to 05 drinks per week, has shown changes in the fertility of women.
Some studies show that women who used alcohol a month before fertility treatments were negatively affected by the decreased chances of becoming pregnant.
A group of scholars also found a relationship between alcohol consumption and menstrual cramps . During the survey, they concluded that drinking alcohol more than once a week increases the likelihood of severe pain lasting longer during the menstrual cycle.
In the same way that alcohol causes damage to female fertility, the same goes for male. Excessive alcohol intake can cause impotence, reduce libido and affect the quality of sperm.
During pregnancy, alcohol intake is associated with risks for the baby, such as Fetal Alcoholism Syndrome , as well as an increased chance of miscarriage and malformation .
Cigarette use
Even with the various campaigns that are carried out alerting the effects of cigarette use, there are still many smokers in the country and many start this habit from an early age.
This seems to be one of the most damaging habits for anyone trying to conceive. As we all know, smoking causes several health problems. Among them, we can mention the increased chances of developing various types of cancer, such as lung, pharynx, larynx, among others, in addition to problems with blood pressure and, also, problems related to fertility.
In terms of numbers, one study points out that smoking increases the risk of infertility by about 60% . The relationship between smoking and menstrual cycle disorders has been the subject of many investigations. Therefore, there is ample evidence that points to the effects that smoking causes on female fertility, in which the ovaries and uterus are severely affected. Some studies have concluded that smoking causes egg aging and affects ovarian reserve markers.
In the womb, smoking acts by altering its adherence and making it difficult to implant the zygote . There is also a strong association between cigarette smoke and accelerated loss of follicles, as well as abnormal follicular growth, which compromises the quality of eggs. In addition, we can mention the fact that smoking decreases the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body, increasing the levels of androgen hormones, thus impacting the hormonal balance of the body.
The consequences of smoking are also noticeable during menstruation . Typically, women who smoke have fewer menstrual days and an intense menstrual flow during those days.
Even for those seeking help through treatment, smoking will decrease the chances of success. Data indicate that smoking is associated with low fertility rates and a greater risk of failure in IVF .
In cases of cigarette use during pregnancy , there are serious risks not only for the pregnant woman, but also for the baby. In addition to the risk of having a placenta previa or displacing it, smoking during pregnancy increases the chances of having an abortion and, also, of the baby being born underweight. Not to mention the possibility that the baby has respiratory problems throughout his life.
So, the best thing to do is to try your best to abandon any habits that may harm your health and also that of your baby. In addition to providing greater chances of conception and a more peaceful pregnancy, healthy habits will guarantee a possibility that the baby will also develop healthily.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.