Why are there more and more cases of infertility in men and women

Infertility is an increasingly common problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately one in six couples of reproductive age have problems having children. In Spain, infertility affects 15-20% of couples, according to data from the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF). This organization defines infertility as the inability of an individual to have offspring naturally and states that it is a disease recognized by the WHO that can affect both the male and female reproductive systems. To diagnose it, according to the SEF, it is generally necessary for a couple to have had regular unprotected sexual relations for 12 months and have not achieved pregnancy. In the case of women over 35 years of age, the stipulated time is six months.

The embryologist

Antonia González, an expert in fertility treatments, assures that infertility rates have increased in recent years, with more and more patients needing help: “Hence the proliferation of fertility clinics.” What is the reason for this increase? The embryologist believes that there is not just one reason, but several, and all of them are important. Although, as she explains, basically the most relevant are the age of the first pregnancy and the lifestyle that both the man and the woman lead. “Nowadays, couples look for their first child later and fertility has a biological clock, especially hers. The quality of the gametes begins to worsen, especially after the age of 35 in women and after the age of 40 in men,” she emphasizes. Regarding habits, González recognizes that we live surrounded by toxins that have a negative impact on the hormonal and immune systems, making it necessary for both systems to function correctly for a viable pregnancy to occur. "In addition, this constant contact with so many toxins has caused an increase in pathologies such as endometriosis - a disease in which, on the outside of the uterus, a tissue similar to the interior mucosa of the uterus grows that can cause intense pain - or polycystic ovary syndrome —a condition in which a woman has very high levels of hormones (androgens)—,” he adds.

A sedentary life is another cause of the increase in cases of infertility, according to González, because the lack of exercise or sitting for a long time has an impact on glucose and insulin levels after eating, for example, which affects the metabolism. "The majority of patients we see in consultation have a nutrient deficiency, we have many foods, but with few nutrients, and if this is accompanied by a digestive-intestinal alteration we have the perfect combo so that good absorption of the food does not occur. food,” he details.

"In addition, the alteration of circadian rhythms - time to eat, time to sleep - has an impact on our fertility, since our body is genetically designed to feed at its own time, rest at a certain time, digest at its own time or repair the immune system in due time. And if we do not respect them, our entire system ends up not working correctly. And for us to have optimal fertility we need a balance between the immune system, the hormonal system and the nervous system.”

Beatriz Méndez del Río is a nutritional therapist and

health and nutrition

specialized in functional fertility and hormonal health. Due to her years of experience, she believes that generally the women who come to the consultation present a variety of conditions that may be directly or indirectly affecting fertility: “From nutritional deficiencies that may be altering their menstrual cycle, their fertility and their health in general to hormonal imbalances such as thyroid problems, endometriosis, irregular menstruation cycles, amenorrhea (absence of periods) or polycystic ovary syndrome, among others.” “The fundamental thing is to take a good history of the person to understand where the problem may be coming from,” explains Méndez del Río. “By that I mean a lot of data; complete clinical history, from whether she was born by natural birth or cesarean section, whether she was breastfed or not, what that pregnancy and childbirth was like, whether her mother or grandmother had fertility problems. And she adds that menstrual history is also very important, from menarche to the current moment, as well as personal history: “In short: who you are, what you do, what you do.”

The couple's nutrition is also essential. "To find out how they eat, an exhaustive food diary is made for between seven and ten days in which we see not only what they eat or drink, but how, when and how much, as well as symptoms that may arise throughout the day, both directly associated with diet as other potentially unrelated symptoms—stress, exercise, among others—,” explains Méndez del Río.

“When we know all the information, a work plan and protocol is established,” continues Méndez del Río. Thus, the therapist emphasizes that there is no single nutritional guideline applicable to everyone equally, since each person is different and their circumstances are unique: "But if we had to focus on a common pattern, it should be to promote high-quality foods." nutritional density—those that have the greatest amount of nutrients per calorie—, eat enough (both at a caloric level and at a micro- and macronutrient level) and maintain stable blood glucose levels.”

Just as the embryologist explains

Antonia González, for Méndez del Río, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, excessive consumption of sugars and trans fats, tobacco, alcohol or marijuana are widespread habits that have a direct impact on reproductive health: “Excessive exercise also has an impact on fertility, although it is not a harmful habit

Sleeping poorly or not paying attention to the quality of rest is one of the most widespread problems that I see in consultation and one of those that most affects fertility. There is no physiological process that escapes the effects of sleep. And, of course, I don't want to forget about stress, which is also very harmful.”