Author: Cindy Harker
Despite scientific advancements and greater medical interventions more couples are dealing with infertility than ever before.
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least one year.
According to a 2020 UCLA Health report an estimated 15% of couples will have trouble conceiving. This is a massive jump from infertility rates recorded 20 and 30 years ago.
Here we look at some of the reasons infertility is on the rise and what you can do to counteract this phenomenon in your own life.
Lifestyle choices
More couples are choosing to first complete their education and obtain financial security before starting a family. This shift in priorities means that couples are much older when they decide to conceive. A few decades ago the average age for conception was 21. Today the average age is approximately 26. This puts both men and women at a disadvantage to conceive as fertility declines as people age.
Environmental factors
Industrial chemicals and environmental pollutants are also known to lead to infertility. Lead poisoning in particular has been cited as one of the top environmental causes of infertility. People who undergo Chemotherapy and x-ray therapy are also at greater risk of
experiencing infertility as these types of treatments are extremely toxic to sperm and eggs.
Diet
Studies have found that the western diet which is high in processed meats, refined grains, and sweets have a negative impact on fertility rates. On the contrary a healthy diet which emphasizes fish, chicken, vegetables, fruit and water produces the highest sperm count in men.
Other health factors such as obesity, smoking, and excessive drug and alcohol consumption have also reportedly yielded negative results for couples attempting to conceive.
Sadly infertility has become commonplace and is expected to increase in the future. This is in large part due to the growing acceptance of a more westernised lifestyle and diet. While many of these factors are unalterable there are some instances in which infertility can be reversed.
If you are struggling with infertility visit one of these clinics for more information on available treatments.