Couples who have high cholesterol levels take longer to conceive. Their fertility can also be affected by this parameter.
Cholesterol interferes with fertility. Conceiving takes longer in couples where at least one partner has excessively high total cholesterol levels, according to a study published this May 20 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
500 American couples were followed between 2005 and 2009. They tried to conceive for a year, during which the researchers analyzed their blood cholesterol levels. Differences appear according to ethnicity, age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and educational level of participants. But cholesterol levels have an undeniable influence on the time between when a couple decides to conceive and when they do.
The key role of women
“It appears that high cholesterol not only increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, but also lowers a couple’s chances of conceiving,” summarizes Professor Enrique Schisterman, lead author of the study. Indeed, when both partners have cholesterol above the norm, the woman takes longer to get pregnant, and fertility is reduced. The same phenomenon is observed if the woman alone has a high cholesterol level. On the other hand, if it is the man who is concerned, only the time between the first attempt at conception and pregnancy is lengthened.
“Our results suggest that couples who wish to conceive may improve their chances of achieving it by first ensuring that their cholesterol levels are acceptable,” concludes Prof Schisterman. If this study is satisfied to draw up a negative association between cholesterol and fertility, hypotheses emerge. The body uses blood cholesterol to make sex hormones like testosterone or estrogen. It could therefore be linked to fertility, say the researchers.
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