Lifestyle Related Fertility Disorders in North Jordan: Potential for Improvement

Abstract

IntroductionCurrent evidence indicates a 9% prevalence of infertility (1). Patients that are hoping to get pregnant might wonder about their fertility and whether they can improve it. There is an increasing body of evidence that lifestyle factors can influence reproductive health. The post-industrial era is associated with an excessive exposure to certain lifestyle factors and behaviors that have the potential for a positive or negative effect on reproductive performance (2). Some factors might be beyond patients' control, such as medical issues that affect both male and female fertility, but other lifestyle factors, such as nutrition, weight, exercise, psychological stress, and age of starting a family can be modifiable (2).Negative effects of lifestyle factors such as environmental and occupation exposure, illicit drug use, cigarette smoking, medications, weight management, exercise, alcohol and caffeine consumption are well documented (3-6). Lifestyle-related fertility disorders were estimated to be responsible for 5% of all cases of subfertility (7). To enhance fertility, such lifestyle factors, once identified, can be modified.The findings of the effect of body weight on fertility are firmly established in both sexes. Pathophysiologically, being over or underweight would lead to hormonal changes that would lead to oligomenorrhea and anovulation with subsequent subfertility (8-14). Studies investigating sporting behavior indicate that excessive sport, in terms of frequency, duration and intensity have a negative effect on hormone balance and reproductive performance. The findings of these studies were independent of the confounding factors of age, smoking or body mass index (BMI) (15)(16)(17)(18)(19).There is a plethora of studies that document the detrimental effect of smoking on both male (20,21) and female reproductive performance (22,23). Research indicates that smoking impairs sperm count, motility, morphology and fertilization capacity (20). Women smokers have a significantly smaller number of pregnancies and a higher incidence of miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies (23).Commonly encountered drugs and medications may be detrimental to semen parameters and male sexual performance (24). These agents may exert a gonadotoxic effect on the testicles, alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and impair ejaculation, erectile function and libido (25).Recreational drugs can affect male fertility. The long- AbstractObjectives: To explore the prevalence rates of lifestyle practices linked to fertility disorders. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study, using a validated questionnaire, was conducted among sub-fertile couples attending the fertility center at Jordan University of Science and Technology between February 2013 and August 2014. Results: A total of 126 couples took part in the study. The average length of sub-fertility was 4.2 years. The mean age of the women was 31 years, of whom 70% were <35 years of age. Over 6% engaged in regular sporting activity. Less than 1% of women smo...

Demographic, Anthropometric, and Biochemical Characteristics of Jordanian Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

“…Furthermore, behavioral fertility disorders are common in Jordan. Thus, it is strongly recommended for adjusting lifestyle and nutritional factors to improve reproductive health (26).…”