Infertility is a growing concern among couples worldwide, with lifestyle factors playing a crucial role in prevention. A recent study explores how a combination of healthy lifestyle habits affects the risk of infertility in women of reproductive age.
Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2013 and 2018, the study focused on 2,154 women aged 18 to 44. Researchers developed a “healthy lifestyle score” based on five key factors: adherence to a healthy diet (scoring in the top two-fifths of the Healthy Eating Index-2015), low-to-moderate alcohol consumption (1–14 grams per day), optimal waist circumference (under 80 cm), regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week), and nonsmoking status.
Weighted logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between these healthy lifestyle factors and the risk of infertility, accounting for other potential confounders.After adjusting for confounding variables, the results revealed that women who adhered to 4 or 5 healthy lifestyle factors were 59% less likely to experience infertility (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.23–0.76) compared to those who followed zero or one of the factors. Furthermore, each additional healthy lifestyle factor was associated with a 21% reduction in infertility risk (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68–0.92). Notably, the beneficial effects were more pronounced among women under the age of 30. Optimal waist circumference emerged as the most significant factor influencing this inverse relationship.
The study highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in reducing the risk of infertility among women of reproductive age. Public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthy diets, regular physical activity, and reducing alcohol and tobacco consumption could play a pivotal role in preventing infertility. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to explore how lifestyle interventions can be effectively implemented.
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