Every year, between 15 and 20 million young couples across the world suffer from infertility, says the 2012 report of the International Institute of Population Sciences. Notwithstanding its ever-surging population, India too is witnessing a worrisome spike in infertility rates. Experts tell us that the seeds of infertility are sown in the teenage years; reasons range from a diet seeped in junk food to promiscuity. Here's what you should be wary of to avoid infertility when your grows up.
Fat chanceMost teenagers, who like to indiscriminately indulge their taste buds and don't bother piling on the kilos, should know that obesity is notorious for interfering with fertility in men and women. Dr Kaustubh Kulkarni, IVF specialist, states that women need body fat in order to have regular periods. "However, when a woman reaches a Body Mass Index of 29 or above, her fat deposits produce androgens — hormones that promote male traits. These hormones prevent embryo maturation in ovaries and contribute to anovulation (failure of ovulation)," he says.
In men, 10 kilos of weight gain is estimated to raise the chances of infertility by 10 per cent. "Obese men show reduced androgen levels accompanied by elevated oestrogen levels. Also, their testosterone levels can be up to 24 per cent lower than the normal range. These altered hormones may explain the increased risk of infertility," adds Dr Kulkarni.
Junk jeopardyHogging on comfort junk fare at fast food chains have unfortunately become second nature for urban teens. The high-calorie burgers, colas, fried chicken and fries are rich in trans fats (which raise your bad cholesterol and lower your good cholesterol levels). Trans fats affect fertility in young men and women which actually starts showing up only in adulthood.
Dr Kulkarni gets several cases of women in their 20s suffering from Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD) — a condition associated with malfunctioning of ovaries. "Had most of these women exercised restraint on their eating habits in their teens, they may have been able to avert PCOD," he says. Trans fats in fast foods also aggravate the production of leptin — a hormone that regulates metabolism and energy expenditure — in women. Increased leptin levels disrupt the ovarian cycle, which leads to PCOD.
In men, trans fats make the body resistant to insulin. This shoots up blood sugar levels, accelerating the natural process of cell death and damage of the sperm DNA. Trans fats can also lower sperm motility and reduce sperm counts by 38 per cent. However, getting more omega-3 fatty acids (from seafood and nuts) means higher sperm counts.
Choose rightCuriosity often gets the better of teenagers — which may even mean unprotected sex. When that leads to unwanted pregnancies, many feel hesitant to opt for an abortion. Dr Nikita Lad, IVF expert at S L Raheja Hospital, says, "Instead, some may opt for an unprofessional place, where they may not maintain hygiene, and cause injuries like uterine perforations, cervical lacerations and internal wounds. This may cause infertility over time."
Crash dietsTeen girls aspiring to achieve size zero figures sported by their favourite Bollywood heroine or Hollywood hottie, get habituated to an unhealthy diet. However, if the woman's weight falls under 45 kilos, she may stop ovulating. This happens because hypothalamus — which functions as a type of thermostat for the body — fails to tell the pituitary gland to produce embryos. Once the link between them is broken, it may take years before it is established again.
For boys, when the body is devoid of nutrients like zinc, good fats like Omega 3s and vitamins C, E and D, it affects the quality of sperm and libido, and can also lead to infertility.
Tight inner wearThe temperature of the testicles is supposed to be one-and-a-half degrees lower than normal body temperature. "That is the ideal temperature for sperm to survive," says Dr Rajan Bhonsle, professor and HOD of sexual medicine at KEM Hospital. "Youngsters, who wear tight undergarments through the day and sleep wearing them, risk raising the temperature of their scrotum, damaging sperm."
Also, regularly taking hot water baths or hitting the sauna has adverse effects on sperm health.
Play safeSTDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis and others are responsible for roughly onefourth of infertility cases in teens.
Dr Lad says, "STDs do not directly cause infertility. However, they can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or other reproductive organs in women. PID results in scarring of the fallopian tubes, which makes it difficult for eggs to move through them, thereby causing conception problems."
In men, STDs cause urethral strictures or may damage, infect and block the sperm duct leading to infertility.
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