New research by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found out that women who work on physically demanding jobs and those whose working schedules that are outside normal daytime working hours have decreased fertility, as evidenced by a lower ability to conceive.

New Study Findings

The study that brought to light the findings described above was published under Occupational and Environmental Medicine. It was conducted by Boston, MA T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s research fellow Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón from the institution’s Department of Environmental Health as the lead author and completed alongside research associate Audrey Gaskins from the Department of Nutrition together with other researchers.

Mínguez-Alarcón shared that their study suggests that women who are planning to get pregnant should be made aware of the possible negative impacts that heavy lifting and working on a non-day shift have on their reproductive health and ability to conceive.

Why This Is New

Although science already knows that certain factors related to occupation affect fertility (and that some factors can prolong the time it took to get pregnant or negatively affect a woman’s ability to carry a pregnancy to term), the studies performed in the past do not really go into the physiological explanation as to why this happens.

It should be noted that the study conducted by Mínguez-Alarcón went into the measurement of biomarkers of fertility such as levels of reproductive hormones and ovarian function, making the new study one of the very first to gauge if workplace factors have an effect on a woman’s biological ability to have a child.

Focused Research

The research got data from women who required treatment for their fertility problems. The focus on this research population allowed researchers to measure biomarkers of fertility that are not possible to evaluate in women who are attempting natural conception.

Together with her colleagues, Mínguez-Alarcón examined indicators of ovarian reserve in 473 patients who availed of infertility treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital. The measurement of ovarian reserve can determine declining fertility because it is the measurement of remaining eggs that declines as a woman ages.

The research team observed ovarian response in 313 of the study respondents who have completed at least a cycle of IVF. Ovarian response is a number of mature eggs that can develop into healthy embryos.

The women in the study were also asked questions that determined the working schedules and physical demands of their jobs. The researchers gathered all the data and analyzed the relationship between these factors and the biomarkers of ovarian response and ovarian reserve. The women’s sedentary and physical activities during their leisure time were also documented and analyzed.

Thought-Provoking Findings

The study showed that those who lifted heavy weights have no issues with their FSH levels but women whose jobs are physically demanding have a lower egg reserve. Those who worked shifts were found to have fewer mature eggs on average than those who worked normal office hours. Those who worked nights had the fewest number of mature eggs.

Audrey Gaskins shared that their study shows that non-day shifts and occupational heavy lifting may adversely affect egg quality and production. She also stated that further work is needed to find out if egg quality and production can still be improved if the above situations are avoided.

It should be noted that this study is observational and non-conclusive. Further studies will be needed to assess what impact other influential factors may have on women’s fertility.

For many cultures, fertility is the essence of womanhood and manhood. Marriage, pregnancy, and parenthood are all considered developmental milestones. When attempts to conceive a child fail, it can be an emotional experience.

Advances in reproductive technology have made fertility treatment in Los Angeles a prospect of hope for many couples. Many ethical and psychological issues are associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as use of egg donors and sperm donors. For couples who choose to use a donor, psychological counseling can help.

Infertility affects around 15% of couples in America, and it is defined as inability to become pregnant after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. In addition, 40% of infertility is attributed to a female factor, and another 40% is attributed to a male factor. The other 20% of infertility is either a combination of male and female factors, or attributed to an unknown cause. Regardless of the cause, inability to conceive a child is emotionally taxing for the couple.

Third Party Reproduction

The mental health professional is available during routine consultations, as well as screening of egg and sperm donors. The recipients (couple trying to conceive) meets with the counselor before and during the gamete donation process.

Before choosing a donor, the couple meets with the counselor to examine their understanding of the donation process, to evaluate their motivation, and to assess reproductive history, social history, mental health history. The mental health professional also administers psychological testing.

Because egg donors have more risks, they must also undergo a stringent screening process, but sperm donors are screened as well. According to studies, the screening process assures egg and sperm recipients that the donors are free of social dysfunction and psychiatric pathology.

The egg or sperm recipients are educated on the donation process, In addition, they are given an opportunity to discuss their reactions regarding the loss of fertility, issues related to infertility, concerns about parenting, as well as ask questions about the confidentiality, privacy, and disclosure of the process. Pretreatment counseling assists the couple to come to their own decision about how to deal with the issue of disclosure regarding egg or sperm donation in their own family, work, and social circles.

Choosing a Donor

Choosing an egg or sperm donor is an emotional situation. Couples often need to discuss traits and characteristics of the donor that is important. Some couples focus too much on physical appearance and forget to consider personality, intelligence, and abilities. The mental health counselor will assist the couple with these choices. In addition, many couples struggle with the concept that the child will not bond with them due to the biological situation. These are normal feelings.

Ending Treatment

One of the hardest aspects of the ART process is failure with the egg donation or sperm donation. Ending treatment can be difficult for a couple, especially when they really want a child. The mental health professional works with the couple to decide if using a surrogate is an option, or if adoption would be a better decision.

The Los Angeles fertility specialist will discuss the average number of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles when using egg or sperm donation. The counselor also discusses time considerations, costs, and emotional aspects of infertility treatment options. Couples are often encouraged to take breaks from treatment, if time permits, to renew psychological health and for physical rest.

Pacific Reproductive Center offers all types of fertility treatments in Los Angeles metro at 4 locations including Glendale, Irvine, Corona, Torrance. Call us today for the top Los Angeles IVF, ICSI and medication treatments!

A usual component of infertility treatment involves medications. Fertility drugs are often used to prepare the body for assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments and to increase the number of healthy eggs released from the ovaries. A reproductive specialist will evaluate your condition and determine which medications are best for your situation.

Clomiphene Citrate

Clomiphene citrate (Serophene or Clomid) are medications used to treat ovulatory dysfunction. These drugs work by increasing the amount of FSH secreted by the pituitary gland. Clomid is often used in women who have infrequent or absent periods, and it stimulates ovulation. The risks and side effects of Clomid include multiple pregnancy, headaches, blurred vision, mood swings, depression, miscarriage, and ovulation hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

Letrozole

Also called Femera, letrozole was first used to treat postmenopausal women with breast cancer. This drug was found to be as effective as Clomid for inducing ovulation, but is used less frequently.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Gonal-F and Follistim are fertility drugs that mimic FSH, a pregnancy hormone. These drugs are created using recombinant DNA technology. FSH is the hormone that stimulates the ovaries to grow and mature. Taken via self-injection, these drugs are often used during intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Two purified forms of FSH taken from post-menopausal women’s urine are Bravelle and Fertinex. These drugs are less potent than FSH. Potential side effects and risks of these drugs include breast tenderness, increase chance of miscarriage, premature delivery, depression, multiple births, and mood swings.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Ovidrel, Pregnyl, and Novarel are drugs that mimic the hormone LH, which is naturally occurring in the body. LH triggers ovulation, and the drugs are made of the urine from pregnant women. Injectable LH drugs are used during IUI and IVF treatment.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)

GnRH is an injected used to stimulate the production of FSH and LH, which is secreted from the pituitary gland. Factrel and Lutrepulse are name brands of GnRH. Side effects and risks of these drugs include nausea, headaches, multiple births, abdominal pain, and bloating.

GnRH Antagonist

Antagon and Cetrotide are fertility drugs known as gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists. These medications work against the hormones FSH and LH in the body, which suppresses ovulation. GnRH antagonist will prevent eggs from being lost inside the body before they are retrieved for IVF cycles.

GnRH Agonists

Synarel, Lupron, and Zoladex are fertility drugs known as GnRH agonists. These drugs cause an initial surge in LH and FSH production and then cause the body to stop production of LH and FSH. Used for IVF treatment, GnRH agonist prevent ovulation and limit the amount of estrogen. Potential side effects include headaches, hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and vaginal dryness.

Human Menopausal Gonadotropins (hMG)

Repronex, Pergonal, Humergon, and Menopur are fertility drugs that are composed of FSH and LH. Called human menopausal gonadotropins, these drugs are used in special cases to stimulate multiple egg production. hMG drugs are administered via self-injection. Potential side effects include abdominal pain, bloating, breast tenderness, and increased chance of miscarriage.

Bromocriptine

An oral medication used to reduce prolactin release from the pituitary is bromocriptine (Parlodel). The side effects of this drug include nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness.

Progesterone

Injections of progesterone are given to prepare the placenta for embryo implantation. This drug can also be administered by pill, vaginal gel, or suppository.

The top fertility clinics in Los Angeles metro are Pacific Reproductive Center. The Centers are located in Glendale, Torrance, Corona and Irvine. Board Certified California reproductive endocrinologists offer all types of IVF, ICSI, hormonal treatments and medications. Call us today for top LA fertility treatment!

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