Does cold weather reduce fertility?
According to Dr. Chetna Jain, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cloudnine Hospital (India), fertility does not decrease in winter. However, the winter environment can create indirect changes:
Lower sunlight can reduce vitamin D, which can affect ovulation.
Winter diseases such as flu or viral infections can disrupt the menstrual cycle or temporarily inhibit ovulation.
Sudden weight changes due to the lifestyle in the cold season can affect the menstrual cycle, while cool weather helps sperm stay healthy, maintain quantity and mobility, while high temperatures cause harm.
Winter mood swings and their effects
Dr Chetna Jain says that winter can aggravate seasonal affective disorder (SAD) symptoms, causing stress, depression and sleep disorders. These factors can indirectly affect fertility:
Breaking the brain - ovarian endocrine axis, which is necessary for ovulation.
Delay or prevent ovulation, making the menstrual cycle irregular.
In addition, research on PubMed with more than 15,000 sperm samples shows that sperm count and quality peak in winter compared to summer, showing that cool and humid environments are beneficial for sperm health.
Ovulation and hormones in women in winter
In women, winter factors such as lack of sunlight, low vitamin D, infections and weight changes can affect the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Stress, mood swings, and sleep can also cause brain hormonal ovarian to function unstably, making it more difficult to determine the time of conception.
Advice for couples trying to conceive in winter
For women:
Check and supplement vitamin D if needed.
Get enough sleep, do light exercise to stabilize hormones.
Getting vaccinated against flu and improving immune health.
Watch your ovulation cycle and timing if you are affected by stress or seasonal changes.
For men:
Avoid taking a hot bath or steaming, which helps maintain sperm quality.
Drink enough water to make up for the dry winter air.
Add zinc, antioxidants, and protein to your diet.
For everyone:
Maintain regular sex, about 2-3 times a day during the period of preeclampsia.
Control stress with sunlight, walking or light exercise.
Prioritize immune health, as winter illness can affect the menstrual cycle and sperm.
Note
According to Dr. Chetna, winter can have a mild impact on a number of reproductive factors, such as sperm quality in men, hormonal cycles or the risk of infection in women. However, the season does not decide whether to conceive. A healthy lifestyle, adequate nutrition, stress management and regular health monitoring are still the most important factors to increase the chance of pregnancy, regardless of the season.
