Lifestyle factors in people seeking infertility treatment - A review.
BACKGROUND
Clinical infertility is a prevalent problem with significant financial and psychosocial costs. Modifiable lifestyle factors exist that may affect a person's time to conception and their chance of having a healthy, live birth. However, no guideline delineates what preconception advice should be offered to people presenting for infertility treatment.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to review the literature regarding modifiable lifestyle factors in people seeking infertility treatment.


RESULTS
A person's time to pregnancy and their chance of having a healthy, live birth may be affected by factors such as weight, vitamin and iodine intake, alcohol and caffeine consumption, smoking, substance abuse, stress, environmental pollutants, vaccinations and oxidative stress.


CONCLUSIONS
Advice on modifiable lifestyle factors should be given to people presenting for infertility treatment to help them make positive changes that may improve their chances of pregnancy and delivering a healthy, live baby. Developing a guideline for this would be a prudent step towards helping clinicians to implement this aspect of preconception care.
Anderson
Kirsty
K
Level 6 Medical School, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. kirstyanderson1@gmail.com
Nisenblat
Vicki
V
Norman
Rob
R
D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects