Hidden Causes – Top Unidentified Possible Reasons For Infertility
Infertility has often been correlated to abnormalities in genetic make-up of men and women, hormonal imbalances and infectious diseases. As such, infertility is defined as the inability to produce an offspring for more than six months of regular and unprotected sexual intercourse. Furthermore, infertility also entails the inability to carry a pregnancy to its full term, resulting in miscarriages.
Annually, approximately 2.4 Million cases of infertility have been reported. 7.4 Million Women of reproductive age suffer from infertility. Women between ages 15 to 44 often show a case of impaired fecundity. It is a condition that causes infertility, wherein the uterus is unable to carry a baby once conception occurs. Around 11.8% of the infertility cases are due this condition, with the women taking 40% of the cause of infertility cases. Another 40% can be attributed to male infertility and 20% for both partners being infertile.
As infertility cases increase in folds, the number of researches on the cause of the condition has been launched. Female and Male infertility are found to be primarily caused by physiological factors like hormonal and ovulation problems, psychological and emotional factors like stress, pressure and worry, and environmental factors like our environment, toxin exposure, lifestyle and the food that we eat.
Apart from the biological and genetic irregularities that cause infertility, here are some of the top seemingly harmless causes of infertility:
1. Soy Food, Soy supplements and Soy based milk – Soy has been marketed for its health benefits, being a good source of protection from prostate and breast cancer. However, recent studies conducted in the United States found out that excessive consumption of soy-based products can cause infertility. There were indications that large consumption of soy products introduces endocrine disruptors onto the body; these are compounds interfering with normal hormone function and ovulation process. Intake of soy products has been attributed to reduction of testosterone level and low sperm count in men, and endometriosis and growth of polyps, and bleeding in the uterus in women.
2. Genetically Modified Food (GMs) – Austrian Government has commissioned a study on Genetically Engineered Foods and has found that a diet consisting of genetically modified food attributes to infertility. The study was done on a group of mice fed with genetically modified corn and found changes in over-all health and reproductive performance. This result is caused by the negative effect of the GMs to our gene expression. This effect causes significant changes to our fertility that we can neither predict nor anticipate.
3. Nuts like almonds, Brazil nuts, Walnuts and Pecans – Fertility specialists often advise those who are trying to get pregnant to avoid food that has high copper content. These nuts including other food like peanut butter, sunflower seeds, liver, soft-shelled sea food (crabs and shrimps), contain high copper levels that tends to regulate ovulation. Copper is a well known component in birth control pills, and when taken in food with high copper content can attribute to infertility or difficulty in getting pregnant. It is also said to cause growth of multiple cysts in the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus, which are responsible for hormonal disruptions and hormone-related conditions.
4. Caffeine – In our coffee and sodas, caffeine is pointed to be one of the leading causes of infertility. Excessive intake of caffeine is said to alter the normal ovulation process and reduce fertility.
5. Alcohol – Drinking high alcohol content and excessive alcohol intake can affect fertility as it is associated with poorer health and fertility. Studies have shown that men and women who consume more than 5 bottles of regular beer everyday are more prone to develop infertility than those who rarely consume an alcoholic beverage.
Most of the food and beverages listed above can be found in the supermarkets and grocery stores and little did we know that this so-called healthy food can attribute to the increasing infertility cases. It is always best to read food labels thoroughly and consult your physician and gynecologists for appropriate diet.
General health and lifestyle are the foremost causes of unexplained fertility problems. So it is always wise to check on obesity, malnutrition caused by vitamin and zinc deficiencies, and emotional stress. Watching your diet is only one of the many alternative ways that we could prevent and overcome infertility.
Hidden Causes – Top Unidentified Possible Reasons For Infertility by Angelica C
