The effect of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and fruit and vegetable consumption on IVF outcomes: A review and presentation of original data

Background - Lifestyle factors including cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and nutritional habits impact on health, wellness, and the risk of chronic diseases. In the areas of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and pregnancy, lifestyle factors influence oocyte production, fertilization rates, pregnancy and pregnancy loss, while chronic, low-grade oxidative stress may underlie poor outcomes for some IVF cases. Methods - Here, we review the current literature and present some original, previously unpublished data, obtained from couples attending the PIVET Medical Centre in Western Australia. Results - During the study, 80 % of females and 70 % of male partners completed a 1-week diary documenting their smoking, alcohol and fruit and vegetable intake. The subsequent clinical outcomes of their IVF treatment such as quantity of oocytes collected, fertilization rates, pregnancy and pregnancy loss were submitted to multiple regression analysis, in order to investigate the relationship between patients, treatment and the recorded lifestyle factors. Of significance, it was found that male smoking caused an increased risk of pregnancy loss (p = 0.029), while female smoking caused an adverse effect on ovarian reserve. Both alcohol consumption (β = 0.074, p < 0.001) and fruit and vegetable consumption (β = 0.034, p < 0.001) had positive effects on fertilization. Conclusion - Based on our results and the current literature, there is an important impact of lifestyle factors on IVF clinical outcomes. Currently, there are conflicting results regarding other lifestyle factors such as nutritional habits and alcohol consumption, but it is apparent that chronic oxidative stress induced by lifestyle factors and poor nutritional habits associate with a lower rate of IVF success

The effects of being overweight and obese on female reproduction: a review

Obesity is a major international problem related to many reproductive health problems including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This article reviews the evidence of being overweight and its effect on female reproduction. The fecundity of obese women is lower than normal weight women, but there is no absolute consensus about the effect of obesity on infertility treatment. The obese patient might have oocyte, hormone, metabolic and endometrial dysfunction affecting reproduction. Insulin and leptin may be some of the answers explaining anovulation during obesity leading to infertility. Moreover, the follicular glucose and lipids which are important for oocyte development also increase in the obese patient and these might have an effect on oocyte quality because studies in mice have revealed that the obesity affects follicular cell stress and oocyte lipids. Overall, obesity affects female reproduction by disturbing the general body metabolism, hormone metabolism and the follicular environment.Tawiwan Pantasri and Robert John Norma