Fertility Impairment

It is a reflection of general health and well-being, and can also indicate a hidden or undiagnosed genetic abnormality. This goes a long way in an integrated and holistic approach. Disruption to any stage of ovulation, fertilization, implantation can lead to the impaired fertility.

It is a serious problem in the modern world. The number of problematic couples is growing. At the moment about 16% of couples in Canada have problems with conception falling into the infertility category. For comparison, in 1984 this figure was 5%. 40% – male factor, 40% – female, 10% – combinations, 10% – unknown.

Groups of factors affecting the quality of the egg and sperm

  1. Aging is the main factor for the egg. At the same time, sperm from older men have a very small increase in the risk of genetic defects.
  2. Bad habits.
  3. Reproductive hazards. The three general categories of reproductive hazards are:
    • physical factors such as radiation, exposure to electrical shock, excessive vibration or heat, working conditions, and physical demands
    • biological factors such as viruses, parasites
    • toxic agents, the exposure happens via ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact; some fetal toxicant exposures are concurrent with the pregnancy; others are the result of an exposure in the past, with ongoing maternal elimination of the toxicant or from mobilization of stored toxicants (polychlorinated biphenyls from fat stores, lead from bone stores)

Examples

The mobile phone is classified as bad habits. One research has shown that cell phone use more than 4 hours a day led to 25% sperm count decrease with only 20% with normal morphology.

Alcohol reduces fertility in men and women, and is also very toxic to the embryo and fetus, increasing the risk of miscarriage. In men, excessive alcohol consumption is associated with decreased sperm function.

Smoking in men leads to deterioration of the genetic material of the sperm, their morphology, mobility. In the offspring a higher risk of cancer in childhood is seen. Smoking in women can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and increased the risk of pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and also Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is important to note that environmental tobacco smoke is just as harmful as active smoke.

After the cigarettes and alcohol, Marijuana is the most common agent causing problems with sperm and egg quality. Marijuana users have impaired ovulation. Cannabinoids also interfere with the neuro-humoral regulation and thus disrupt the time of embryo implantation. Timing is very important for this process. The energy balance in the sperm is disturbed, the cells mobility and morphology suffer. Testosterone production is also reduced.

Reproductive toxicants

A large number of environmental factors are associated with impaired fertility in both women and men. In particular, persistent organic pollutants (POP) are resistant to degradation in the environment through chemical, biological or photolytic processes. Many of them were used in the past and a lot of them are still in use presently: insecticides, detergents, phenols, esther phthalates, pesticides, solvents, and other industrial chemicals like polyfluorinated compounds, bisphenol A (BPA), lead.

POPs, such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), used in the manufacturing of electrical equipment before 1979, but as a result we have contaminated soil and water till this time. Other POPs like dioxins and furans(by-products of incomplete combustion, including forest fires, volcanoes eruptions, engines exhausts, cigarette smoke, various industrial processes like metal smelting, bleaching during paper manufacturing, pesticide and herbicide production – they all accumulate in fat tissue of animals and then are present in food. POPs cause developmental problems, immunosuppression, tumors, they also mimic estrogens and cause endometriosis in animal models. Endometriosis is also associated with other substances leading to hormonal disorders. For example, women who were regularly fed with soy milk (baby formula) as infants are at increased risk of endometriosis.

Bisphenol A, used in many common consumption goods such as water bottles, sports equipment, receipts printed on thermal paper and food packaging, is a female and male reproductive toxin. There is a strong evidence that Bisphenol causes endocrine disruption in the ovaries and uterus in women. Men who have been exposed to intense exposure to bisphenols have a wide range of sexual dysfunctions, such as decreased frequency of intercourse, ejaculatory problems, decreased sexual arousal, and erectile dysfunction.

Pesticides have long been known as a cause of reproductive disorders. In the 70s, the use of the pesticide dibromochloropropane (DBCP) inflicted infertility on a group of workers who came into contact with it.

Vinclozolin, a fungicidal agent in the wine industry, in experiments on pregnant rats, just after a single use, led to an impairment of spermatogenesis in offspring for 4 generations.

Lead (lead-acid batteries, exhaust, even lead-free gasoline has traces of it, mining, old lead pipes) impairs fertility in both men and women. For the former, high levels of lead are toxic to sperm, for the latter, the risk of miscarriages and stillbirths increases. Any level is dangerous. Lead interferes with cognition in kids, and also negatively affects the cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems.

Phthalates (used to soften plastic and as a perfume in personal care products) are associated with antiandrogenic effects in men, negative behavioral reactions, hypertension in pregnant women, and eclampsia.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (used in non-stick and water-repellent coatings) causes intrauterine growth retardation.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are used in refractory materials during manufacturing of mattresses, electronics, plastics, furniture, textiles, carpets. They are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including low birth weight.

I did not find any studies on fertility, but a strong effect on the cardiovascular system and the pulmonary system was noted.

Inhalation leads to lung problems.

Opiates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, clotrimazole, antipsychotics, alpha-blockers, chemotherapy drugs interfere with reproductive function.

Stress negatively affects sperm quality and, in women, decreases the likelihood of conception and increases the risk of miscarriage. Also worsens the outcome of in vitro fertilization.

If you are interested in this and other health topics, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine can work with you at 101 Medical Center. Learn more.

  1. Sutton P, Woodruff TJ, Perron J, et al. Toxic environmental chemicals: the role of reproductive health professionals in preventing harmful exposures. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012; 207:164.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Reproductive and Birth Outcomes and the Environment, 2017. https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showRbBirthOutcomeEnv.action (Accessed on March 01, 2020).
  3. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 575. Exposure to toxic environmental agents. Obstet Gynecol 2013; 122:931. Reaffirmed 2018.
  4. Janssen S. Female reproductive toxicology. In: Current Occupational & Enviornmental Medicine, 5, Ladou J, Jarrison RJ (Eds), Lange Medical Books/McGraw Hill, New York 2014.
  5. Environmental Impacts on Reproductive Health and Fertility, 1st ed, Woodruff TJ, Janssen SJ, Guillette LH JR, et al (Eds), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2010.
  6. American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health. Toxic or environmental preconceptional and prenatal exposures. In: Pediatric Environmental Health, 4th ed, Etzel RA (Ed), American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, IL 2019.
  7. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Your Health. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html (Accessed on March 01, 2020).
  8. Wang A, Padula A, Sirota M, Woodruff TJ. Environmental influences on reproductive health: the importance of chemical exposures. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:905.
  9. Lifestyle causes of male infertility. Arab J Urol. 2018 Mar; 16(1): 10–20. Published online 2018 Feb 13. doi: 10.1016/j.aju.2017.12.004
  10. ESHRE Capri Workshop Group. Nutrition and reproduction in female. Human Reproduction Update 2006;12(3):193–207.
  11. McLachlan RI, de Kretser DM. Male infertility: the case for continued research. Med J Aust 2001;174:116–7.
  12. British Medical Association Board of Science and Education. Mobile phones and health: an interim report. BMA Policy Report. London: BMA; 2001:1–15.
  13. Anderson K, Norman RJ, Middleton P. Preconception lifestyle advice for people with subfertility. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010;4:CD008189.
  14. Motejlek K, Palluch F, Neulen J, et al. Smoking impairs angiogenesis during maturation of human oocytes. Fertility Sterility 2006;86(1):186–91.
  15. Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, et al. Diet and lifestyle in the pre-vention of ovulatory disorder infertility. Obstet Gynecol 2007;110:1050–8.
  16. McDiarmid MA, Gardiner PM, Jack BW. The clinical content of preconcep- tion care: environmental exposures. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2008;199(Suppl. 6):357–61.
  17. Homan GF, Davies M, Norman R. The impact of lifestyle factors on reproductive performance in the general population and those undergoing infertility treatment: a review. Hum Reprod Update 2007;13:209–23.
  18. Ebisch IM, Thomas CM, Peters WH, et al. The importance of folate, zinc and antioxidants in the pathogenesis and prevention of subfertility. Hum Reprod Update 2007;13:163–74.
  19. Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, et al. Protein intake and ovulatory infertility. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008;198(2):210; e1–7.
  20. Wilcox AJ, Weinberg C, Baird DD. Caffeinated beverages and decreased fertility. Lancet 1988;2(8626–7):1453–6.
  21. Stanton CK, Gray RH. Effects of caffeine consumption on delayed conception. American Journal of Epidemiol 1995;142(12):1322–9.
  22. Agarwal A, Gupta S, Sharma RK. Role of oxidative stress in female reproduc- tion. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2005;3:28.
  23. Agarwal A, Saleh RA, Bedaiwy MA. Role of reactive oxygen species in the pathophysiology of human reproduction. Fertil Steril 2003;79(4):829–43.
  24. Cetin I, Berti C, Calabrese S. Role of micronutrients in the periconceptional period. Hum Reprod Update 2010;16(1):80–95.
  25. Morriss-Kay GM, Sokolova N. Embryonic development and pattern forma- tion. FASEB J 1996;10(9):961–8.
  26. Nelson CJ, Shindel AW, Naughton CK, et al. Prevalence and predictors of sexual problems, relationship stress, and depression in female partners of infertile couples. J Sex Med 2008;5:1907–14.
  27. Shindel A, Nelson CJ, Naughton CK, et al. Sexual function and quality of life in the male partner of infertile couples: prevalence and correlates of dysfunction. Journal of Urology 2008;179:1056–9.
  28. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-occupational-and-environmental-risks-to-reproduction-in-females?search=reproductive%20toxins&sectionRank=2&usage_type=default&anchor=H23&source=machineLearning&selectedTitle=2~83&display_rank=2#H21