If your work schedule or lifestyle leads to frequent late nights with early wake-up calls, the constant lack of sleep can affect your body, and hence, affect your fertility. Researchers have shown that people who get less than 5 hours of sleep are more likely to suffer from obesity, and obesity can lead to problems with fertility.
Working the graveyard shift may also affect your fertility. Research on night-shift workers has shown that working the night shift relatively close to the day of ovulation may increase the rate of miscarriage.
Research has also shown that night shift work can cause irregular menstruation in some women. Irregular menstruation is often considered a risk factor for fertility problems.
Getting adequate sleep at night, and avoiding the night shift if possible, may help improve your chances of getting pregnant. Ways to improve your sleep habits include creating a bedtime routine and sticking with it, avoiding work or checking email just before sleep, avoiding caffeine in the late afternoon and evening, having a cup of herbal tea just before bed, and keeping your bedroom work- and TV-free.
Find more tips on improving your sleep habits in this article from Mark Stibich, the Guide to Longevity:
Next, let's look at the effect weight has on your fertility.
