Volume 29, Issue 155, January 2025

The impact of lifestyle factors on fertility: An analysis of effects on women and men. A review of the literature

Zuzanna Bałoniak^1♦, Anna Jędrasiak², Julia Bałoniak³, Gabriela Skurzyńska⁴, Agnieszka Leszyńska³, Aleksandra Jonkisz⁴, Michalina Doligalska⁵, Aleksandra Stremel⁶, Emilia Bachoń³, Wiktoria Wesołowska⁷

¹Warsaw Southern Hospital, Rotmistrza Witolda Pileckiego 99, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
²Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Rybacka 1, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland
³University Hospital in Poznań, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland
⁴District Health Center in Otwock, Batorego 44, 05-400 Otwock, Poland
⁵Medical Hospital in Garwolin, Lubelska 50, 08-400 Garwolin, Poland
⁶Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Orłowski Hospital, Czerniakowska 231, 00-416, Warsaw, Poland
⁷Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Collegium Maius, Fredry 10, 61- 701 Poznań, Poland

^♦Corresponding Author
Warsaw Southern Hospital, Rotmistrza Witolda Pileckiego 99, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Fertility, defined as the ability to achieve a clinical pregnancy, is a crucial aspect of human reproduction. Infertility, on the other hand, is a complex condition affecting both men and women. This review examines the impact of key lifestyle factors, including body weight, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, psychoactive substances, stress, mental health, sleep disturbances, and circadian rhythm, on the fertility of both sexes. Bad eating habits and excess body weight impair reproductive functions in both sexes. In women, they mainly contribute to ovulation disorders, and in men, to reduced semen quality. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are related to gamete DNA damage, oxidative stress, and hormonal imbalances. Psychological factors influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, disrupting reproductive processes in both sexes. The review shows how lifestyle changes improve reproductive potential and the quality of life of people affected by infertility.

Keywords: Fertility, Lifestyle factors, Infertility, Hormonal balance, Reproductive health

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e8ms3510

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i155.e8ms3510

Published: 09 January 2025