According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes.” Therefore, there are many factors that affect the aforementioned. General good health should not be taken lightly as the absence of it can have dire consequences on women’s fertility.
Although there are varying factors that can affect fertility in women, a very common and major one is having a healthy weight. Interestingly enough though, even if you may not be interested in childbearing, you can avoid other complications by taking your reproductive health seriously regardless. A consistent, healthy diet is recommended over one filled with junk food, but this does not mean that less healthy foods cannot be enjoyed in moderation. A general rule of thumb for a ‘healthy’ diet would be one with increased fruits, vegetables and grains and reduced processed foods and saturated fat.
We are in the midst of the Lenten period and many Christians may have given up the indulgence of alcohol. Lent is more about denying yourself certain pleasures and clearly focusing on the Lord as opposed to being part of some sort of greater dieting scheme, but fasting does still have its advantages in this regard (although not a primary reason). The important aspect to keep in mind is that when the fast is over you should not attempt to squeeze 40 days of drinking into the Easter weekend. Instead, it should continue to be enjoyed in moderation as too much of it can affect menstrual cycle and even lead to infertility. With regards to coffee, another beloved beverage, there has been little to no association between caffeine and fertility, however, increased consumption has been linked to spontaneous abortion.
One cannot speak about diet in isolation, however. After all, physical activity and nutrition must go hand in hand. Based on how busy life has gotten, everyone does not have half their usual day to engage in some form of exercise, unless of course it is your job as some sort of personal trainer or another. At least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily is enough to significantly improve one’s lifestyle. The secret to lifelong benefits, even after childbearing is consistency. We may fall off sometimes, but the most important thing is to get back on without consuming yourself in guilt for a minor shortcoming.
There are a couple more lifestyle habits that must be discussed in relation to reproductive health in women as well. The first of these is smoking which can affect hormone production and fertility levels. For persons who may smoke to handle stress, there are alternatives to coping with this; like physical activity that was previously mentioned. The second habit is sleep, or rather sleeping pattern. Chronic sleep deprivation simply put is getting insufficient sleep over an extended period of time and it has been shown to lower both libido and fertility. Treating this condition is more than just coping, but requires examining underlying conditions like stress.
Reproductive health should be a priority whether you are interested in conceiving or not because issues with reproductive health affects overall health.