Lifestyle and environment

Endocrine disruptors

Several everyday products can affect your fertility. Endocrine disruptors are molecules able to interfere with the normal functioning of the hormone system. Although it may sometimes be difficult to do, these molcules should be avoided as much as possible.

They can be found in the following products:

• Plastic bottles (bisphenol A)
• Cosmetics and food packaging (phthalates)
• Shampoos and deodorants (glycol ethers)
• Food preservatives and cosmetics (parabens)

Diet

You can gain many benefits from healthy eating:

• Women should limit the consumption of coffee to 1 or 2 cups. Drinking too much coffee reduces fertility by 50%.
• Women aged 20 to 45 who adopt a diet primarily made up of fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains are 50% less likely to have difficulty getting pregnant.
• Omega-3 fatty acids (flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, sardines) help maintain the ovarian reserve and improve the quality of eggs.
• In men, omega-3 also improves several sperm parameters and reduces their chromosomal abnormalities.
• Conversely, a diet that is rich in saturated fats and trans fats produces fewer and less motile sperm cells.
• We strongly recommend the paperback book of recipes “Foods that Fight Cancer: Preventing Cancer through Diet,” by Richard Béliveau and Denis Gingras. The nutrition principles that focus on improving your reproductive health are the same as those that prevent cancer.

Obesity

In overweight women, fatty tissues act as a contraceptive by producing too much estrogen, which interferes with ovarian function. A body mass index higher than 30 triples the risk of infertility, increases the risk of miscarriage and lowers the success rate for assisted reproduction.

In obese men, lower testosterone and higher estrogen inhibits sperm production.

Cigarettes, alcohol and drugs

The chemical compounds in cigarette smoke have harmful effects on the functioning of the female reproductive system. They can:

• Increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy
• Cause a decline in uterine lining receptivity
• Reduce estrogen levels
• Affect the maturation of the eggs
• Cause a 60% increase in the risk of infertility

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to irregular menstrual cycles or cycles without viable eggs. Alcohol also increases the risk of miscarriage.

In men, tobacco, alcohol and drug use reduces the quantity and vitality of sperm cells, and increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.

Other

In men, wearing tight-fitting clothing or underwear causes the testicles to overheat, which reduces the motility of sperm cells. In addition, laptops connected to Wifi and resting on the thighs can reduce the motility of sperm cells and damage their DNA.