A new interesting study has recently been released which looks at the effects of stressful events on mothers during the first 18 weeks of pregnancy and the resulting effects on the fertility of sons born from that pregnancy. It has become a household saying that "stress is bad for our health". This new study has taken this a step further by looking at the effects of stress on subsequent generations. Sperm parameter are easier to test compared to eggs as sperm is more readily available and easier to assess using simple analysis methods. Eggs would require egg retrieval and only infertile patients would be analysed.
This study looked at 643 men half of whom had mothers that were exposed to stress. The stressful event was described as death of a relative or friend, relationship problems, divorce, job loss or financial issues. If the mother experienced 3 or more stressful events in early pregnancy, their sons on average had lower sperm count, lower sperm motility and lower blood testosterone level. Embryonic development is at a critical stage between 8 to 14 weeks which is also when the reproductive system is developing. As a result, stressful events beyond 18 weeks of gestation did not adversely affect the fertility of sons.
This could explain the decreasing levels of unexplained fertility in men and is a good starting point for researching other lifestyle choices that occur during pregnancy and affect infertility. Other factors could be: obesity, smoking, alcohol use, high cholesterol, and exposure to chemicals. To ensure, women are aware of these affects, improved support is before and during pregnancy is crucial.
This study was observational and showed a correlation between stress during pregnancy and decreased fertility in male offspring. More research needs to be conducted to understand the mechanisms involved in this. One can assume that similar results would be seen in female offspring. This study is a good starting point to show that lifestyle does in fact affect not only our own health but also the health of our children.
If you are interested in having a more detailed look at the study, visit the following link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190529221036.htm
