How we live our daily lives directly influences our health, including reproductive health. Environmental and behavioural factors can decrease the chances of successful techniques or increase the risks for pregnancy.
For example, tobacco has been shown to have a very negative influence on semen quality in men and on egg quality in women. In addition, smoking also affects the endometrium, reducing the rate of implantation, and causing defects in the foetuses and their development.
Alcohol has also been studied frequently and is known to have a negative impact on fertility, especially when consumed continuously and in greater quantities, particularly affecting hormone levels.
Weight is one of the factors that can most negatively influence reproductive treatments. A body mass index (BMI) that is not within normal parameters has direct consequences on hormone production, and therefore sperm production and menstrual cycle regulation. Patients with a very low BMI usually suffer with amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea (absence of menstruation or less of it), with the corresponding risk of infertility. But above all, obesity, more frequent in the population, has very negative effects on reproduction, reducing the possibility of pregnancy, increasing the rate of miscarriage, and modifying the hormonal environment. In many cases, obesity is associated with problems of diabetes, polycystic ovaries, hirsutism…
For this reason, diet is very important in general health and therefore reproductive health. Eat a balanced and healthy diet, do not abuse stimulants such as caffeine… and do not undertake weight loss diets that have not been approved by an endocrinologist or nutritionist.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, research and studies have been carried out on how this infection (and its vaccines) affects pregnancies, births, or even trying for a baby.
As far as we can see, it does not seem to have a negative influence on the foetus or pregnancy, although it is true that as a precaution it is recommended to wait about 2 weeks after the vaccine or after the infection has passed to perform an insemination or a transfer to avoid the possible risks of fever, for example.
Only in cases of patients suffering severe symptoms from COVID-19 infection (requiring hospitalisation) do more premature births and more risks to the foetus and pregnancy occur.
In any case, this must always be approached on a case by case basis. Depending on the symptoms, the doctor should evaluate the risk of continuing treatment to minimise the danger to the future mother and her baby.
