Women's Reproductive Health: Moving, Lifting Heavy Objects Decrease Fertility In Women

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A new study suggests that women who lift occupational heavy objects might suffer decreased fertility. Heavy lifting even indicates a stronger effect of low potency than overweight or obese women and older women.

According to researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, non-daytime work shifts may also decrease fertility. The study claims that night shift and heavy lifting could have possible negative effects on woman's reproductive health, Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, a research member in the Department of Environmental Health and lead author of the study said.

Therefore, women who are preparing for pregnancy should avoid these kinds of activities. Unlike previous studies, this new study is the first to measure the links between biomarkers and work-related factors, Live Science reported.

The said biomarkers of fecundity are the levels of reproductive hormones or ovarian function. The researchers examined about 500 women looking for infertility management at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) from 2004 to 2015.

Researchers directly measured numerous biomarkers of fecundity that is impossible in women trying to conceive naturally. These include the number of antral follicles, which are small structures in the ovary that signify the number of immature eggs present in the ovary. In addition, the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen and the number of mature eggs that can be developed into healthy embryos were also included.

They studied the relationship between these biomarkers and the body requirements and work shifts of these women, noted in a questionnaire. Their result suggests that moving or lifting heavy object was inversely related to the number of antral follicles and eggs' count among women

Women who are known for moving or lifting heavy loads at work had 8.8 percent lesser number of eggs and 14.1 percent lower mature eggs. They were compared to female participants who never lift or move heavy objects at work.

The indirect connection between heavy lifting and the number of mature eggs was stronger among women who were overweight or obese and those 37 or older. Night or rotational shifts were, likewise, inversely linked to woman's egg production.

The researchers found no association between job-related factors and either estrogen or FSH levels.Meanwhile, researchers claimed that working non-day shift interrupts circadian rhythm thus causing women to produce lesser eggs.