Lifestyle factors and reproductive health: taking control of your fertility

16 Jul 2013Rakesh Sharma, Kelly R Biedenharn,Jennifer M Fedor,and Ashok Agarwal

Many lifestyle factors such as the age at which to start a family, nutrition, weight, exercise, psychological stress, environmental and occupational exposures, and others can have substantial effects on fertility; lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, illicit drug use, and alcohol and caffeine consumption can negatively influence fertility while others such as preventative care may be beneficial.

Systematic review
30 effects

Reported Outcomes

DeterminantsOutcomeDetails

Stress Brain outcome
Stress
Brain system

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Moderate evidence
-40.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Pregnancy & Birth Maternity outcome
Decreased risk of Pregnancy & Birth
Maternity system

High evidence
-40.0%

Intense Exercise Selfcare risk & protective factor
Strong Risk Factor Intense Exercise
Selfcare

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Strong decrease risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
-250.0%

Intense Exercise Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Intense Exercise
Selfcare

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor increase risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
4.7%

Marijuana Herb risk & protective factor
Risk Factor Marijuana
Herb

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
-70.0%

Alcohol Beverage risk & protective factor
Risk Factor Alcohol
Beverage

Pregnancy & Birth Maternity outcome
Decreased risk of Pregnancy & Birth
Maternity system

High evidence
-50.0%

Aging Musculoskeletal outcome
Aging
Musculoskeletal system

Pregnancy & Birth Maternity outcome
Decreased risk of Pregnancy & Birth
Maternity system

High evidence
-30.0%

Irritability And Anger Brain outcome

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Low evidence
-100.0%

Fruits Nutrition risk & protective factor
Strong Protective Factor Fruits
Nutrition

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Strong increased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
130.0%

Meat & Foods rich in Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) Nutrition risk & protective factor
Risk Factor Meat & Foods rich in B...
Nutrition

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
-32.0%

Moderate Exercise Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Moderate Exercise
Selfcare

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor increase risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Moderate evidence
8.0%

PM25 Outdoor Air Pollution Contaminant risk & protective factor
Risk Factor PM25 Outdoor Air Pollu...
Contaminant

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Moderate evidence
-110.0%

Irritability And Anger Brain outcome

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Moderate evidence
-110.0%

Vegetables Nutrition risk & protective factor
Protective Factor Vegetables
Nutrition

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Increased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
90.0%

Unsaturated fat Nutrition risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Unsaturated fat
Nutrition

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor increase risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Low evidence
15.0%

Moderate Exercise Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Moderate Exercise
Selfcare

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor increase risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
15.2%

Alcohol Beverage risk & protective factor
Risk Factor Alcohol
Beverage

Pregnancy & Birth Maternity outcome
Decreased risk of Pregnancy & Birth
Maternity system

High evidence
-50.0%

Pesticides Exposure Contaminant risk & protective factor
Risk Factor Pesticides Exposure
Contaminant

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
-60.0%

Obesity Musculoskeletal outcome
Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Pregnancy & Birth Maternity outcome
Minor decreased risk of Pregnancy & Birth
Maternity system

High evidence
-18.7%

Processed Foods Nutrition risk & protective factor
Risk Factor Processed Foods
Nutrition

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
-73.0%

Dietary supplements and vitamins Manufactured risk & protective factor
Risk Factor Dietary supplements an...
Manufactured

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
-41.0%

Depression Brain outcome
Depression
Brain system

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Moderate evidence
-40.0%

Coffee (Caffeine) Beverage risk & protective factor
Risk Factor Coffee (Caffeine)
Beverage

Still Birth Maternity outcome
Increased risk of Still Birth
Maternity system

High evidence
80.0%

Coffee (Caffeine) Beverage risk & protective factor
Strong Risk Factor Coffee (Caffeine)
Beverage

Pregnancy & Birth Maternity outcome
Strong decrease risk of Pregnancy & Birth
Maternity system

High evidence
-400.0%

PM10 Outdoor Air Pollution Contaminant risk & protective factor
Risk Factor PM10 Outdoor Air Pollu...
Contaminant

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Moderate evidence
-110.0%

Excess use of digital technology  Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Risk Factor Excess use of digital ...
Selfcare

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Low evidence
-10.8%

Solvents Exposure Contaminant risk & protective factor
Minor Risk Factor Solvents Exposure
Contaminant

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Moderate evidence
-8.0%

Lead Exposure Contaminant risk & protective factor
Minor Risk Factor Lead Exposure
Contaminant

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Low evidence
-100.0%

Sauna Selfcare risk & protective factor
Minor Protective Factor Sauna
Selfcare

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor increase risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

High evidence
22.0%

Drug abuse and addiction Contaminant risk & protective factor
Minor Risk Factor Drug abuse and addiction
Contaminant

Fertility Reproductive outcome
Minor decreased risk of Fertility
Reproductive system

Low evidence
-200.0%