Infertility Risk Factors for Women and Men
Infertility Risk Factors for Women and Men
Many things can affect fertility for men and women. Some factors can affect how easily a woman ovulates, gets pregnant, or gives birth to a baby. Men have risk factors, too. Many things can affect the health of their sperm.
Risk factors for women
These are things that can affect a woman’s fertility:
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Age. Women in their late 30s and older are less fertile than women in their early 20s.
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Endometriosis
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Chronic diseases such as diabetes, lupus, arthritis, hypertension, and asthma
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Hormone imbalance
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Smoking cigarettes
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Drinking alcohol
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Contact with workplace hazards or toxins
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Too much body fat or very low body fat
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Abnormal Pap smears treated with cryosurgery or cone biopsy
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DES taken by their mother during pregnancy
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Sexually transmitted infections
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Fallopian tube disease
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Multiple miscarriages
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Fibroids
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Pelvic surgery
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Abnormalities of the uterus
Risk factors for men
These are things that can affect a man’s fertility:
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History of prostatitis, genital infection, or sexually transmitted infections
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Regular contact with radiation, radioactivity, or welding
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Regular contact with toxins such as lead
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Regular contact with ethylene dibromide or vinyl chloride
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Cigarette or marijuana smoke
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Heavy alcohol drinking
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Exposure of the genitals to high temperatures
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Hernia repair
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Undescended testicles
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Opioid-like medicines that affect the central nervous system
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Mumps after puberty
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A genetic problem
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A problem that was present at birth (congenital)