Latest news with #BirlaFertility&IVF
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
No tobacco day: Smoking harms more than your lungs; It can damage your eggs as well
Long-term cigarette smoking has some obvious visible signs – coughing, yellowing teeth, discoloured fingernails, bad breath and others. In more severe cases, it leads to life-threatening diseases like lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart disease. What remains less talked about is smoking's silent damage to fertility. The harmful chemicals that poison the lungs and bloodstream travel through the body, leading to hormonal imbalance and disrupting normal reproductive functioning, putting fertility at risk. Even occasional smoking in the 20s and 30s, when reproductive health is typically at its peak, can compromise the quality of the egg and reduce the chances of conceiving naturally. Research suggests that women who smoke are at 40–60% higher risk of infertility compared to those who don't. Smoking affects more than the lungs Nicotine, the main harmful substance in tobacco, directly interferes with how hormones work in the body. For women, the presence of excess nicotine in the body often means a drop in oestrogen levels. This eventually disrupts the ovulation cycle and compromises the egg quality and quantity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Smoking also accelerates the loss of eggs, affects the uterus' ability to support a pregnancy, and even makes fertility treatments like IVF less effective. Tobacco use can cause a 20% drop in ovarian reserve, meaning fewer eggs and a higher chance that the remaining ones may not be healthy. It also increases the risk of irregular periods, early menopause, and premature ovarian insufficiency – a condition where the ovaries stop working before the age of 40. How smoking affects pregnancy Women who smoke are also more likely to face issues like miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and implantation failure during fertility treatments. And the ill-effects of smoking on a woman's health don't stop there. Smoking increases the risk of hormone-related health problems like breast cancer, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes as well. The most dangerous aspect is that even exposure to second-hand smoke can harm fertility by lowering egg quality and disrupting hormonal balance. Your body wants to heal Here's the part most people don't hear often: reproductive health can improve once you quit tobacco. Quitting smoking helps restore hormonal balance, enhance egg quality, and promote regular menstrual cycles. In some cases, these changes begin within just a few months. Over time, your body can reverse significant damage caused by tobacco. This No Tobacco Day, think beyond the lungs If you're planning a family or even just thinking about it for the future, quitting tobacco is one of the most powerful steps you can take today. Just like your lungs, your eggs too deserve a chance to breathe easy. (Dr. Lipsa Mishra, Fertility Specialist, Birla Fertility & IVF, Bhubaneswar) One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
News18
18-05-2025
- Health
- News18
How Vitamin D Deficiency Could Quietly Affect Fertility Across Generations
Last Updated: Vitamin D isn't just for bones—it plays a vital role in fertility, pregnancy health, and even the well-being of future generations. Often overlooked as just a 'bone vitamin," vitamin D plays a much deeper role in reproductive health—one that can influence fertility outcomes across generations. 'While its importance for calcium metabolism and bone health is well known, vitamin D is equally vital for reproductive function," says Dr. Shilpa Singhal, Fertility Specialist at Birla Fertility & IVF, Dwarka. 'Vitamin D receptors are present in the ovaries, testes, and placenta, as well as in key areas of the brain like the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which regulate reproductive hormones. A deficiency can disrupt hormone balance, egg and sperm production, embryo quality, and even the uterus's ability to support implantation." This silent deficiency is widespread. A study published in the International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology revealed that 64% of Indian women are vitamin D deficient. It's particularly prevalent in women with PCOS, where it's linked to irregular cycles and hormonal imbalances. However, studies show that vitamin D supplementation can improve insulin resistance, regulate periods, support egg maturation, and even reduce miscarriage risk. Dr Singhal adds, 'In men, low levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced sperm motility. Supplementation, especially in older men, has been shown to improve both sperm count and quality." 'With nearly 80% of adults globally having insufficient vitamin D levels, the implications for fertility and intergenerational health are significant," adds Dr. Singhal. 'Ensuring optimal vitamin D levels before conception and throughout pregnancy and lactation is a simple yet powerful intervention. It's time we moved beyond thinking of vitamin D as just a bone vitamin—and recognise its critical role in fertility and future health." First Published: May 18, 2025, 15:35 IST
Indian Express
21-04-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Elon Musk wants more kids through surrogacy, says report: What do you need to know about sperm donation?
Tesla CEO and US billionaire Elon Musk, 53, is looking to increase the size of his family by recruiting surrogates from across the world as a means of quickly creating a 'legion' of children, according to a report in the The Wall Street Journal. This has led to many questions about sperm donation and freezing procedures and what it means for fertility for men over 50. Upto what age can men donate sperm? 'Sperm donation in India is safe, well-regulated, and quite simple when done through the right channels. The law allows men between 21 and 55 years to donate sperm. Since sperm quality starts to dip with age, the aim is always to get the healthiest sperm,' says Dr Muskaan Chhabra, Birla Fertility & IVF, Delhi. However, a majority of sperm banks would like donors under the age of 35. 'Sperm quality tends to deteriorate after 40 in terms of quantity, motility and DNA quality. On the other hand, men can, in theory, father children at even older ages, but assisted reproduction and conception chances might go down with advancing age,' says Dr Mannan Gupta, HOD, Obstetrics, Gynaecology & IVF Expert at Elantis Healthcare, Delhi. Older men can have decreased sperm count, movement and shape, all of which impact fertility. 'Moreover, sperm DNA fragmentation increases, which can impact embryo development and raise the risk of miscarriage,' adds Dr Gupta. What are factors to keep in mind before becoming a donor? Sperm donors undergo a complete medical history examination to exclude any hereditary or underlying illnesses. 'A series of tests are carried out, which include infectious disease screenings such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis, as well as genetic carrier testing to detect any concealed conditions,' says Dr Chhabra. According to her, the parameters are sperm count (at least 16 million per millilitre), motility or the ability of sperms to move efficiently, (a minimum of 42 per cent), and morphology (a minimum of four per cent). Lifestyle plays a significant role as donors have to be non-smokers, not have used any drugs and be in top physical condition. How is the donor sperm stored? Sperm samples are frozen and quarantined for a period of 180 days and retested to ensure they're free from infections before use. With modern cryopreservation techniques, sperm can be stored for many years, even decades, without significant declines in quality. 'There have been successful pregnancies using sperm frozen for 10 to 20 years and even longer in some cases. As long as the sample remains frozen without thawing, its quality remains largely unchanged,' says Dr Gupta. What about the impact on infants? Dr Gupta says infants born to older fathers might have marginally increased chances of genetic mutations, autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. 'The DNA present in the sperm ages along with men, and therefore, the likelihood of transferring genetic abnormalities increases. Still, most infants born to older fathers are completely normal. The overall likelihood of carrying a healthy baby is quite high,' says Dr Gupta. What are Indian laws? Sperm donation is governed under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. Only licensed ART banks are allowed to source, screen, store and provide donor sperm. Only a married couple or a single woman can undergo ART procedure and use donor sperm to conceive. To avoid any accidental biological overlap, one donor's sperm can only be used for one intended recipient.
