About this Research Topic

Background

Modern lifestyle factors such as poor dietary habits, reduced physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption may significantly impact human fertility.

The escalation of global obesity rates can be attributed in part to modern lifestyle trends favouring unhealthy eating habits and increasingly sedentary behaviour. The potential connection between obesity and decreased anti-Müllerian hormone levels (AMH) presents a intriguing avenue of study, given that AMH plays a crucial role in ovarian folliculogenesis in women. Although the relationship between body mass index and AMH is a topic of ongoing debate, additional evidence suggests a strong correlation between obesity and fertility parameters. For example, bariatric surgery, considered the gold standard surgical treatment for severe obesity, has been observed to enhance ovulation rates and mitigate the risk of miscarriages.

Smoking is also recognized as a harmful factor to fertility, such as due to its negative impact on sperm quality (impact on female fertility would benefit from being added). A primary damage to sperm DNA, caused by mutagens such as certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in tobacco smoke, may result in mutations in paternal germ cells or direct breaks in the DNA strands (i.e. DNA fragmentation).

Additionally, some studies suggest that both cigarettes smoking and alcohol intake may cause epigenetic alterations and DNA damage in germ cells. These changes could lead to hereditary imprinting and genetic anomalies, along with related syndromes.

The impact of environmental pollution on fertility is another increasingly important issue. For instance, particulate matter (PM) in the air carries pollutants that can penetrate lung tissues and the bloodstream, potentially affecting hormonal and reproductive health, and is linked to poorer sperm quality. Similarly, ambient noise contributes to stress and sleep disturbances that may disrupt hormone balance, essential for reproductive health. Additionally, the contrast in air quality and noise levels between urban and rural areas could explain differences in fertility rates, with urban environments posing higher risks due to denser traffic and industrial activities. This highlights the need for continued research into environmental factors and their effects on fertility to promote healthier reproductive outcomes.

Through examining various modern factors that detrimentally affect our health, this Research Topic aims to explore their influences on both female and male fertility. With certain lifestyle-related factors becoming increasingly prevalent or remaining prevalent in modern society, it is critical to highlight their detrimental effects not only from an awareness standpoint but also to decrease the need for, and to safeguard the success of, assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

We welcome submissions of Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Clinical Trials on the following sub-topics, including but not limited to:

• Exploring how obesity affects reproductive capabilities and hormonal balances;

• Investigating the impacts that smoking tobacco has on overall reproductive health;

• Analyzing how the consumption of tobacco and alcohol influences the physiological aspects of reproductive health;

• Examining the complex relationships between various environmental pollutants and their direct and indirect effects on human fertility.

Keywords: smoking, fertility, reproductive hormones, environmental pollutants, tobacco, obesity

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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