subject: Air Pollution Now Linked To Reduced Fertility [print this page] Pollution can be detrimental for women getting pregnant through IVF. A research conducted by Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York stated so. Air pollutants particularly nitrogen dioxide can destroy all the attempts of IVF that could have been otherwise successful. The doctors have expressed the fear of adverse affect on male and female reproductive organs of air pollutants produced by ever increasing traffic in the cities.
This study cited that nitrogen dioxide which is a major air pollutant and pumped out by car and heavy vehicle pipes, cookers and power station can decrease the chance of success of an IVF treatment by 24 percent. This impact is seen as the effects of ageing in the conceiving abilities of women by the scientists. This study was based on 7500 women who were undergoing IVF treatment. The time span for this research was seven years during which researchers monitored pollution concentration in the locality of each patient and the average nitrogen dioxide concentration at the place around her home and fertility clinic on daily basis.
They observed that with each extra unit of nitrogen dioxide the possibility of conceiving dipped by 13 to 24 percent. In past, there have been other researches that echo the findings of the study. IVF is the process where an egg is fertilized outside the body of female and then, it is planted in womb. The research suggests that higher amount of nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants prevent this process of implantation. The results of the research showed that 51 percent of participants were tested positive for the pregnancy and 36 percent were successful by giving birth to live kid.
The research concluded that increased concentration of harmful gases had significantly lowered down the success rates of IVF cycle in all phases. However, this study took NO2 as an account and the significance of gases like sulphur dioxide were seen as next to nothing. The researchers stated that the due to the impurities and poor air quality reproduction through IVF has become complex than ever. The 36 percent results are the evident proof of it.
They have also admitted that there is more scope that needs to be corrected for well grounded findings. The IVF clinics generally use more or less same method of the treatment however, the process itself is very complex and the methods can have direct or indirect affect on the success.
The research did not take any other factors into account like if one of the spouses smoked just before or during the treatment that could highly impair the pregnancy outcome. The other pollutants and air variants should also be considered.
This study seems promising but needs more research to establish itself as it can be difficult to measure the exposure of expected mothers to pollution. Based on a very complex idea, this research opens up a whole new gateway to ensure the success of pregnancy through IVF.
