High cholesterol and infertility

When the cholesterol becomes high, the risk of a stroke or a heart attack increases, and you may also experience low sex drive. But, cholesterol is significantly important for the proper working of our organs. It contributes to the building of the cell membranes, helps rescue the blood vessels, takes care of the nerve fiber, and also enables the production of vitamin D, bile acid, and other necessary hormones that aid fertility in men and women.

How is cholesterol associated with fertility?

Our body uses cholesterol to produce sex hormones, such as progesterone, testosterone, oestradiol, and even sperm, which is vital for conception. When there is a drastic rise or a reduction in cholesterol levels, it can affect the basic function that requires cholesterol. Hence, it can also interfere with your pregnancy in women.

There are several studies conducted to study the relationship between pregnancy and high cholesterol with the help of couples who were trying to conceive. Couples who were suffering from hypercholesterolemia or high levels of cholesterol, it was found that the time taken to conceive was more when compared to the couples with normal cholesterol levels. Hence, cholesterol must be taken into consideration before trying to conceive.

How to keep your cholesterol in check?

There are various things you can do, in order to retain the normal cholesterol levels. First of all, it is very important to go for regular cholesterol screening. This will let you know if everything is normal. If your test results show a rise in your cholesterol levels, you must visit your healthcare practitioner in order to bring it back to normal. Additionally, there are a few steps you can take to keep your cholesterol levels in check. They include;

• Being active physically, i.e., regular exercise for at least 30 minutes, every day of the week.
  If you are overweight, it is important to maintain your ideal weight.
• Include more whole grains and soluble fiber in your diet. Your daily fiber intake must be about 25 to 30 grams and must include fruits, veggies, and legumes.
• Make sure you consume more of poly and monounsaturated fatty acids and consume less trans and saturated fats. Your saturated fat consumption should be less than 7% and the trans fat consumption should be less than 1% of your total calorie count of the day.
• Make sure you consume fruits and veggies that are rich in antioxidants. You must eat at least 5 or more servings of vegetables and fruits in a day.
• When it comes to alcohol, maintaining a strict limit is absolutely necessary. It is said that for men it is less than 2 drinks per day and for women, it is less than one drink per day.

Quit smoking. If you find it difficult to do so, you can contact your healthcare provider, who can help you quit.

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