The reproductologist spoke about habits that reduce female fertility

Some daily habits can gradually reduce female fertility, affecting egg quality, ovulation, and the likelihood of pregnancy. Maria Uskova, a reproductologist at the SM Clinic Reproductive Health Center, told Izvestia on July 24.

According to the expert, reproductive health depends not only on age and heredity. It is also influenced by a woman's sleep patterns, stress levels, diet, physical activity, and lifestyle.

One of the risk factors is regular lack of sleep. With constant sleep of less than six to seven hours, circadian rhythms are disrupted, cortisol levels increase, and menstrual and ovulation disorders may occur.

"Many women believe that the ability to conceive depends solely on age or heredity. Indeed, these factors play an important role, but reproductive health is also affected daily by habits that, at first glance, seem completely harmless," Uskova said.

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Chronic stress also negatively affects the reproductive system. Constant emotional stress can disrupt the work of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system, which causes ovulation to become irregular or temporarily stop. Another risk factor is strict diets and drastic weight loss: a lack of energy, protein, healthy fats, iron, vitamin D and other substances can lead to hormonal disorders.

However, problems can also occur with overweight. Adipose tissue is involved in the metabolism of sex hormones, so both obesity and severe weight deficiency can disrupt ovulation and reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. The doctor recommended paying special attention to smoking and alcohol consumption, which can worsen the quality of eggs, affect hormonal balance and accelerate the decrease in ovarian reserve.

According to Uskova, the level of physical activity also plays an important role. A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic disorders associated with reproductive system problems. However, excessive exertion without sufficient recovery can also negatively affect the body and lead to ovulation disorders.

Another common mistake, the specialist called postponing a visit to the gynecologist in case of cycle disorders. Irregular menstruation, painful periods, spotting between cycles, abdominal pain, or the absence of pregnancy during a year of regular sexual activity without contraception require examination. After 35 years of age, it is recommended to seek help after six months of unsuccessful attempts at conception.

The doctor stressed that a woman's reproductive capabilities are limited and gradually decrease with age. After 35 years of age, the process of reducing the ovarian reserve accelerates, so postponing pregnancy indefinitely, relying only on the capabilities of modern medicine, is not worth it.

On July 9, Ekaterina Lisovskaya, a gynecologist at SM Clinic, said that endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in women of reproductive age and can reduce the likelihood of natural conception due to inflammatory processes, the formation of adhesions and disruption of the reproductive organs. The gynecologist noted that even mild forms of endometriosis can affect a woman's reproductive function.