Wednesday 14 April 2010

Is air pollution affecting your fertility?

New research from the US suggests that being exposed to air pollutants can decrease the chances of successful IVF - maybe a good excuse to take a long holiday if you're going through fertility treatment...

Women going through IVF had the air quality in their home monitored at specific stages during their first treatment cycle- more than 7,000 women were involved in the study which took place over a seven-year period. The findings showed lower likelihoods of a successful pregnancy in the women who had been exposed to higher levels of pollutants, in particular nitrogen oxide. Conversely, higher ozone levels seemed to show more chance of successful pregnancy.

It is thought that these effects could be mirrored more widely, and that exposure to pollutants may have an impact on all fertility, not just that of women going through IVF. More details can be found here

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