Impact of air pollution on women’s reproductive health
New Delhi: Although air quality remains in the ‘severe’ category in Delhi, experts said breathing polluted air can significantly harm reproductive health.
On Thursday morning, the air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘severe’ category.
Anand Vihar station was in the ‘severe’ category with PM 2.5 at 500 and PM 10 at 459, while Carbon Monoxide (CO) was at 85 and NO2 at 57, both at ‘satisfactory’ levels, according to CPCB at 9. a.m. “Amid the prolonged air pollution crisis in NCR, pregnant women are at the forefront of its adverse effects. The delicate particles in the air have potential repercussions on fetal development, contributing to problems like low birth weight and premature birth,” Dr Shweta Wazir, consultant, obstetrician and gynecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Gurugram, told IANS.
Additionally, Wazir said constant exposure to pollution increases stress and anxiety levels, impacting the mental well-being of pregnant women.
“As their immune systems are compromised, the risk of infections during pregnancy increases,” she said. A study published Thursday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives showed that certain pollutants can negatively alter anogenital distance, a measure of prenatal hormone exposure.
Researchers at Rutgers University in the United States suggest that air pollution may interfere with normal hormonal activity during critical periods of prenatal and early baby development.
This alteration can have long-term consequences for reproductive health, they said. Air pollution is a major public health problem. The dangerous air quality poses significant respiratory risks, increasing the likelihood of complications such as asthma and bronchitis.
However, pregnant and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to its harmful effects. It is because “pregnant and pregnant women breathe for two.
The placenta, which is the organ that connects the mother to the fetus, is permeable to air pollutants. And the rapidly developing fetus is more vulnerable to the effects of environmental toxins. “Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy has been linked to several adverse health outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital heart defects, asthma, and autism spectrum disorder,” said Dr. Priyanka Suhag, Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CK Birla. Hospital (R), Delhi, Nisha Bhatnagar, MBBS. MD (ObGyn), medical director of Infinite Fertility, added that daily exposure to high levels of pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant contributing factor to decreased fertility.
In addition to women’s reproductive health, prolonged exposure to polluted air also affects men’s sperm quality.
“Deteriorating air quality not only affects respiratory health but also reduces sexual desire among couples trying to conceive. Exposure to air with estrogenic and anti-androgenic substances can affect testosterone and sperm production,” the doctor told IANS.
Air pollution can be a silent adversary to fertility, affecting both men and women. Toxins from polluted air can alter hormonal balance and harm reproductive health. Experts suggested limiting outdoor activities during times when air pollution levels are highest, focusing on a balanced diet, regular exercise and stress management to support overall health, and engaging in activities such as prenatal yoga and meditation to relieve stress.
“To protect your fertility, consider wearing masks in highly polluted areas. Prioritizing a healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet and regular exercise, can also mitigate the impact of air pollution. Awareness, caution and timely interventions are our allies in the fight for reproductive well-being,” Dr. Lavi Sodhi, Consultant, MBBS, DNB (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Birla Fertility & IVF, Lajpat Nagar.
