Can long working hours and screen time affect fertility? Doctor suggests 5 lifestyle changes to help

How long work hours and too much screen time can impact fertility? 5 simple lifestyle changes that can improve reproductive health.

Many people take pride in working long hours and handling heavy workload. But what if they were told that this constant drive for productivity and being constantly connected could harm something very important: fertility? 

This issue affects both men and women, and it extends beyond couples who wish to have children. Know how daily habits can impact reproductive health, and five simple lifestyle changes that can help improve fertility.

How does screen time affect stress?

When was the last time you left work at the office? For many people, the answer is hard to pinpoint due to late-night emails and after-hours projects. Working excessively, combined with our dependence on screens such as laptops and smartphones, can harm our hormonal health, according to the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. 

Long work hours can cause chronic stress, which may disrupt the hormonal balance in our bodies. Increased stress can lead to sleep problems and poor eating habits, which may affect a woman’s ovulation cycles and lower sperm quality in men.

Using screens in the evening exposes us to blue light, which lowers melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle. 

“When melatonin levels drop, our sleep cycles can be disturbed,” reproductive health expert Dr Puneet Rana Arora tells Health Shots. This makes it harder for our bodies to recover and maintain a healthy balance of hormones.

Impact of a sedentary lifestyle on fertility

Desk jobs often lead to a lack of physical activity. This inactive lifestyle can cause obesity, insulin resistance, and other health problems that can reduce fertility. “For men, using laptops on their laps can raise scrotal temperatures, which harms sperm production and movement,” says the expert. 

Combined stress, poor sleep, and limited exercise can make it more challenging to conceive. The stakes are high, but let’s stay positive and focus on practical steps to improve reproductive health.