Expert insights on how night shift impacts fertility
Siddhartha Jana
Night shifts disturb circadian rhythms, impacting critical reproductive hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, which are required for fertility in both men and women.
Source: Canva
Women who work at nights may experience irregular menstruation, including anovulation and shorter luteal phases, which might result in a lower likelihood of conceiving.
Source: Canva
Long-term night shift work in women may accelerate ovarian reserve depletion, raising the risk of infertility and miscarriage due to hormonal imbalances and melatonin disruption.
Source: Canva
Endometriosis and PCOS are two conditions that may be more common in women who work night shifts, which further reduces fertility.
Source: Canva
Men who work night shifts may experience decreased sperm quality, including decreased motility, morphology, and count, as well as increased DNA fragmentation, all of which might impact reproductive results.
Source: Canva
Prolonged exposure to erratic work schedules can lower men's testosterone levels over time, which can harm spermatogenesis and reproductive health.
Source: Canva
Oxidative stress and hormone disturbance are long-term effects of night shifts that may eventually reduce fertility in both sexes.
Source: Canva
Studies keep showing how night shifts harm reproductive health, emphasising how crucial it is to treat circadian rhythm abnormalities for general wellbeing.
Source: Canva
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