Is your sedentary lifestyle harming your fertility? Here’s what the study says

Lifestyle and health factors in fertile and infertile couples

Insights from the study

Also read |

Medical research has highlighted how prolonged sitting can be linked to reproductive issues. A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to infertility in both men and women. Reproduction is a vital biological process essential for the survival of species. A study on this aimed to explore the relationship between physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, and body composition with idiopathic infertility in men and women. It focused on a French case-control study examining the nutritional determinants of idiopathic fertility to determine if these factors are related to the condition.However, over the past few decades, concerning trends have emerged in developed countries worldwide, suggesting a decline in reproductive health outcomes.According to a study published in PlosOne , research has shown mixed results regarding the impact of physical activity on fertility, suggesting that moderate physical activity is positively associated with semen quality in men and increased fecundity in women.Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity are significant health concerns that can independently affect various health factors, diseases, and mortality.These two behaviours can coexist or occur separately, and physical activity may moderate but not entirely offset the negative effects of sedentary behavior. Sedentary behaviour refers to spending time sitting or lying down, while physical activity means not getting enough exercise (at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week).Unexplained infertility affects 30-40% of infertile couples and can be difficult for those trying to conceive. Standard investigations include tests for ovulation, tubal patency, and semen analysis, but no clear cause is identified.The study involved 302 French participants, including 159 infertile and 142 fertile couples. Infertile participants had unexplained infertility forever a year, while fertile participants had a recent natural pregnancy and delivery.Participants filled out questionnaires covering demographics, lifestyle habits, diet, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Their blood samples, blood pressure, and body measurements were also taken to assess metabolic health.Infertile participants were younger but had lower education levels and higher body measurements as compared to fertile patients. Infertile men were more likely to have metabolic syndrome. Physical activity levels didn’t differ significantly between fertile and infertile groups, although infertile men engaged in less vigorous activity. Sedentary behavior was inversely associated with physical activity only in infertile men. Both groups followed similar nutritional guidelines, but many participants didn’t meet recommended physical activity levels.