Doctors Warn Of Lifestyle-Linked Fertility Issues
Women planning a pregnancy should focus on preconception health, including maintaining a healthy weight and controlling blood sugar levels.
Hyderabad:With high-calorie food becoming easily accessible, women planning to conceive are often overlooking their general health, blood sugar levels and weight. Doctors say changes in diet and exercise can help reduce fertility-related problems. Monday, November 2, is observed as World Fertility Day.
Doctors at fertility centres and gynaecology outpatient departments report that an increasing number of women aged 25 to 30 are seeking consultations for fertility concerns, only to find that underlying issues are linked to lifestyle habits.
They are observing women weighing between 90 and 120 kg, with some having HbA1c levels above 10, indicating poor blood sugar control. Doctors say women need to address weight gain and regulate blood sugar levels before planning a pregnancy.
Gandhi Hospital superintendent Dr Usha Rani said lifestyle changes were affecting women’s reproductive health. She also called for stricter measures to regulate the easy availability of high-calorie food.
“Women are coming to us weighing 90, 100 and even 120 kg and expecting to become pregnant. It is not an easy process that can be addressed in a year or two. They first need to work on reducing their weight before planning a pregnancy,” she said.
Women working long shifts and night duties should opt for healthier snacks such as dry fruits, makhana and corn during breaks, she added.
Dr Preethi Reddy, fertility and IVF expert, told Deccan Chronicle that 30 to 40 per cent of women had poor baseline health.
“Some of the underlying issues could be thyroid disorders or weight gain. Women are not identifying these through basic health tests before marriage. Even educated and working women are not getting regular health check-ups to assess their own health,” she said.
Irregular food habits are among the reasons for poor health, doctors said. Women planning a pregnancy should focus on preconception health, including maintaining a healthy weight and controlling blood sugar levels. Those working outside the home should carry home-cooked food and make healthier dietary choices.
