On the occasion of World Environment Day, Dr Gunjan Gupta Govil of Gunjan IVF launched an awareness campaign discussing the changes in the physical, psychological, and chemical surroundings that have been evident to impact the reproductive function.
Dr Gunjan shared the insight of potential repercussions of chemical contaminants at levels representative of current exposures in the general population which is well documented in the literature. She also discussed the potential adverse effects of chemical intoxicants and its exposure which are ought to be meticulosuly examined and propagated for improved fertility.
From a more zoomed-out perspective, the opening fits the premise of the event held at the Janakpuri Branch of the Gunjan IVF World on the 5th of June. The day is celebrated as World Environment Day. On this occasion, an event was organized by the IVF center to address the impact of a hindered environment on human fertility.
The main speaker of the event was the founder of Gunjan IVF World and an IVF specialist Dr Gunjan Gupta Govil. “Over the last 60 years, women's fertility has significantly decreased by 50%. It is majorly due to environmental toxins, pollutants, lifestyle changes, and stress.
To keep things in perspective, 1 in every 5 couples suffers infertility. Increasing environmental toxins affect fertility in 4 major ways. They cause endocrine disruption, damage to the male and female fertility system, and impaired fetal viability. “Dr. Gunjan further added that “the chemicals used in pesticides like PCB and DDT, cause a significant reduction in the fertility ability.
These chemicals also lead to increased chances of miscarriage. The excessive exposures to these chemicals even lead to the failure of Artificial Reproductive Technologies (ART) like IUI and IVF. “ A study was conducted in which it was found that the men who had high levels of the residue of pesticides in their blood level had a 49% decline in their sperm count as compared to their counterparts. The drinking of chlorinated water also leads to certain reproductive complications. Women who drink excessive chlorinated water are more likely to deliver growth-restricted babies. It also increases the chances of stillbirth.We need to rationally weigh the advantages and disadvantages of chemical intake. Clearly, everything comes with a pinch of salt and the danger cannot be completely averted. Taking in excess seafood increases the mercury level in your body. It leads to abnormal sperm shape and low sperm count. This is mostly seen in South India and Island Countries. Identical issues arise when humans are exposed to lead.Air pollutants are no friend to the fertility case either. Women who actively or passively smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day have fewer chances of conceiving and a higher chance of miscarriage and stillbirth. Cigarette smoking is detrimental to male fertility as well. It decreases the sperm density, the count, the mortality, and the density. A large section of people is exposed to Air pollution not by choice but by chance.
