How Sitting Too Much Affects Your Reproductive Health

Did you know that sitting too much can lead to reproductive problems? Both men and women can face infertility due to a sedentary lifestyle. Reproduction is vital for the survival of any species. A recent study looked into how lack of physical activity and too much sitting might relate to unexplained infertility.

In recent years, many countries have seen a worrying trend. Reproductive health seems to be declining. This makes understanding the impact of our lifestyle on fertility more important than ever.

Is Your Sedentary Lifestyle Harming Your Fertility? Here’s What the Study Says

A study published in PlosOne found some interesting results. Moderate physical activity can improve semen quality in men. It can also boost fertility in women.

Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity are serious health concerns. They can affect various health factors, diseases, and even mortality. These two behaviors can happen together or separately. Physical activity can help reduce the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle but may not eliminate them completely.

• Sedentary behavior means spending a lot of time sitting or lying down.
• Physical inactivity means not getting enough exercise. You should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.

Unexplained infertility affects many couples trying to conceive. Standard tests include checks for ovulation, tubal patency, and semen analysis. Often, no clear cause is found.

Lifestyle and Health Factors in Fertile and Infertile Couples

The study involved 302 French participants. This included 159 infertile couples and 142 fertile couples. Infertile participants had unexplained infertility for over a year. Fertile participants had a recent natural pregnancy and delivery.

Participants filled out questionnaires. These covered demographics, lifestyle habits, diet, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Blood samples, blood pressure, and body measurements were also taken to assess metabolic health.

Key Findings from the Study

Age and Education

Infertile participants were younger. However, they had lower education levels compared to fertile participants.

Body Measurements

Infertile participants had higher body measurements. This includes weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference.

Metabolic Health

Infertile men were more likely to have metabolic syndrome. This is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Physical Activity

Physical activity levels did not differ much between fertile and infertile groups. However, infertile men engaged in less vigorous activity.

Sedentary Behavior

Sedentary behavior was inversely associated with physical activity only in infertile men. This means that the more inactive men were, the less physical activity they engaged in.

Nutritional Guidelines

Both groups followed similar nutritional guidelines. But many participants did not meet recommended physical activity levels.

Also read: A simple blood test could indicate how long you will live