LIFESTYLE AND REPRODUCTIVE

HEALTH
Ankita, Neelam, Sandipana
Department of Zoology, Miranda House, University of Delhi
INTRODUCTION: WHO defines reproductive health as a total well being in all aspects of reproduction, i.e. physical, emotional,
behavioral & social. Thus a society with people having physically & functionally normal reproductive organs & normal emotional &
behavioral interaction among them in all sex related aspects might be called reproductively healthy. Lifestyle refers to the habits & ways
that an individual follows regularly. Many lifestyle factors such as nutrition, weight, physical activity, psychological state, environmental &
occupational exposures can have substantial effects on reproductive status of both male & female.

LIFESTYLE FACTORS EFFECTS

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=lifestyle+%26+reproductive+health&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=623&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUq6Hy2-
_KAhXSCY4KHZVhApcQ_AUICCgD#tbm=isch&q=lifestyle+factors+for+good+health&imgrc=IRCkuUrNa8ClpM%3A

Mental health of a being affects health to a great extent along

with lifestyle choices, support from family & friends and the
working environment.

Low fertility rates in Urban India

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=infertility+rates+in+india&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTu_bT4e_KAhVNbY4KHQKpCAsQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=XywV5v83bN3YIM
%3A

Urban lifestyle in metro cities affects fertility rates

as in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai

30-
36%
girls
in
India
are
suffer
ing
from
PCO
https://www.google.co.in/search?
q=infertility+rates+in+india&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTu_bT4e_KAhVNbY4KHQKpCAsQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=HnmAF9
WU0YKbeM%3A
S.

Conclusion: The outlined lifestyle factors bring reproductive tract infections, hormonal imbalance, malfunctioning organs
& infertility. In males impaired semen quality, erectile dysfunction & in female irregular menstrual cycle, miscarriages,
preterm delivery are common. One in every four couples in developing countries had been affected by infertility when an
evaluation of responses from women in Demographic & Health surveys from1990 was completed in collaboration with
WHO in 2004. The burden remains high. A WHO study, published at the end of 2012, has shown that the overall burden
of infertility in women from 190 countries has remained similar in estimated levels & trends from 1990 to 2010. Awareness
among the citizens, regular check ups & maintaining a dignified lifestyle can bring significant impact on these detrimental
scenario. While many aspects of life are not modifiable, lifestyle can be changed. By understanding the impact of lifestyle
on reproductive health & by actively modifying lifestyle behavior, individuals can maintain their own reproductive health.
Lifestyle factors can be modified to enhance overall well being & they are ultimately under one’s own control.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: We express our deep gratefulness to Miranda House for giving us this opportunity to participate
in this symposium.We would like to provide our sincere gratitude & thanks to Dr. Nisha Vashishta, senior lecturer in
department of zoology, Miranda House for informing us regarding the event & for her encouragement. A special thanks to
Dr. Jyoti Arora, assistant professor,Miranda House for her constant guidance & valuable suggestions.Our friends & well
wishers are always thankworthy for their support & help.