What Increases a Man’s Risk of Infertility?
A man’s overall health and lifestyle can affect his sperm quality and quantity. Factors that may reduce the number of sperm or the quality of sperm he produces include:
- age
- illegal, or street, drugs
- certain over-the-counter medicines
- heavy or frequent alcohol use
- cigarette smoking
- environmental toxins, including pesticides, lead, and pollution
- chemotherapy or radiation treatments (for cancer)
- health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, or hormone problems
What Increases a Woman’s Risk of Infertility?
Anovulation and infertility in women can be caused by a number of factors, which include:
- age
- illegal, or street, drugs
- certain over-the-counter medicines
- heavy or frequent alcohol use
- cigarette smoking
- stress and fatigue
- athletic training (such as marathon or weight-lifting training)
- sexually transmitted infections
- health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
- hormonal problems, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency
