High Cholesterol May Affect Pregnancy
A recent study found a link between infertility in couples and the amount of free cholesterol in their bodies. 501 couples in Michigan and Texas who were trying to have a baby and had not been treated for infertility participated. At the end of the year, 347 of those couples were pregnant. After measuring the fat levels of each partner, a link was discovered in the amount of cholesterol in the couples and the length of time it took them to become pregnant.
The results held up even when the doctors compared sex, education, BMI, and race, Fox News reports. The link is compelling and it appears that free cholesterol indeed plays a role in the fertility of males and females. Free cholesterol is not associated with the typical HDL and LDL your doctor typically tests for, but instead, is linked to the amount of testosterone and estrogen in the body. For men, this cholesterol will determine the strength and quality of the sperm in the body. For women free cholesterol plays a key role in ovulation, implantation, and maintenance throughout the course of the pregnancy.
The study also found that couples where the woman had high free cholesterol levels and the male did not also took longer to have children than couples with normal cholesterol levels. This could mean that women, more so than men, are key in the regulation of cholesterol levels when dealing with infertility. Of course other couples with high levels experienced the same problems. That being said, other issues like drugs, alcohol use, and stress can still be big factors in infertility. The link between free cholesterol is new, as in the past doctors did not typically test for the levels when discussing fertility in couples.
This finding may hold the key for otherwise healthy couples who have trouble conceiving. Free cholesterol, like most cholesterols, is caused by your diet and the amount of fat you store in your body. One downside of the study is that doctors did not inquire on the dietary habits of their patients. Future studies will undoubtedly continue the research with that element added.
CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.
'We've Opened Up An Interesting Can Of Worms': FBI's Zeeko Zaki Addresses That Big Development For OA Without Maggie Before The Season 6 Finale
Billie Eilish Is Holding Listening Parties In Movie Theaters For Her New Album, And I Hope It Starts A New Trend
The Below Deck Crew Drama Got Even Worse This Week, And Fans Are Annoyed For Two Big Reasons