Most people know that a woman's fertility decreases as she gets older, but even during her most fertile (and otherwise healthy) years, lifestyle choices and external factors can affect a woman's chances of having a healthy baby.

"Women who want to increase their chances of getting pregnant often don't know the best things to do or what to watch out for," says Francisco Arredondo, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist in San Antonio, Texas. Here are some of factors that do (or don't) affect a woman's fertility, and what you can do about them if you are trying to conceive.

Being too thin

Just as excess body fat can impact fertility, so can not having enough of it. That may be because women who have very low BMIs are deficient in leptin, the hormone that controls hunger and feelings of satiety. Having low leptin contributes to the absence of menstrual periods, according to a 2009 Harvard University study. "Maintaining a healthy body weight—one that falls in the normal BMI range and that is reached through a healthy diet and moderate exercise—is one of the most important things a woman can do to increase her chances of getting pregnant," says Dr. Arredondo, who recently helped develop Conceivable, (free; iTunes) a new app aimed at helping women increase their chances of getting pregnant.

Getting older

When a woman reaches menopause, usually in her 40s or 50s, she no longer ovulates and is unable to get pregnant. But even in the decade or so before menopause officially occurs, she may experience fertility problems as her ovulation becomes less regular and her egg count declines—a time known as perimenopause.

There's no official age when fertility begins to take a dive, but many doctors say that it often becomes increasingly difficult to get pregnant after age 35. This age is different for every woman, though; some may go through perimenopause earlier, while others remain fertile through their - See more at:http://www.timeless9ja.com/2015/10/some-factors-that-may-affect-womans.html

Thank you this is very insightful!

Timeless9ja:
Most people know that a woman's fertility decreases as she gets older, but even during her most fertile (and otherwise healthy) years, lifestyle choices and external factors can affect a woman's chances of having a healthy baby.

"Women who want to increase their chances of getting pregnant often don't know the best things to do or what to watch out for," says Francisco Arredondo, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist in San Antonio, Texas. Here are some of factors that do (or don't) affect a woman's fertility, and what you can do about them if you are trying to conceive.

Being too thin

Just as excess body fat can impact fertility, so can not having enough of it. That may be because women who have very low BMIs are deficient in leptin, the hormone that controls hunger and feelings of satiety. Having low leptin contributes to the absence of menstrual periods, according to a 2009 Harvard University study. "Maintaining a healthy body weight—one that falls in the normal BMI range and that is reached through a healthy diet and moderate exercise—is one of the most important things a woman can do to increase her chances of getting pregnant," says Dr. Arredondo, who recently helped develop Conceivable, (free; iTunes) a new app aimed at helping women increase their chances of getting pregnant.

Getting older

When a woman reaches menopause, usually in her 40s or 50s, she no longer ovulates and is unable to get pregnant. But even in the decade or so before menopause officially occurs, she may experience fertility problems as her ovulation becomes less regular and her egg count declines—a time known as perimenopause.

There's no official age when fertility begins to take a dive, but many doctors say that it often becomes increasingly difficult to get pregnant after age 35. This age is different for every woman, though; some may go through perimenopause earlier, while others remain fertile through their - See more at:http://www.timeless9ja.com/2015/10/some-factors-that-may-affect-womans.html