Effect of high cholesterol on the possibility of conception

High cholesterol directly affects the chances of conceiving by negatively impacting reproductive health. This problem affects both men and women, with a study on 501 couples showing that high cholesterol is associated with difficulty conceiving. It is especially important to consider free cholesterol values.

A study of 501 couples found conception problems in those with elevated cholesterol. The study participants had difficulty planning to conceive, and this was true for both men and women. It is worth noting that none of the participants had previous infertility diagnoses.

Cholesterol can significantly slow down the conception process, warns Enrique Schisterman of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. As part of the study, couples had blood tests at the beginning of follow-up to assess free cholesterol, total cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides and total lipids.

During the period of one year, 347 couples from the observational study successfully conceived a child. Examination of the association between free cholesterol levels and time to conception led to the conclusion that the two factors were interrelated. This relationship was confirmed even after accounting for other factors such as age, education level, body mass index and ethnicity.

Cholesterol affects fertility because it plays an important role in the formation of sex hormones in men and women. These hormones such as estrogen, progesterone (in women) and testosterone (in men) are key to successful conception. They affect sperm quality, the process of ovulation, implantation and the normal course of pregnancy.