Julien Holtzer 6:54 p.m., November 22, 2021

More and more couples are finding it difficult to have children. Age (more or less) advanced, consumption of tobacco, narcotics, daily stress: the factors that can explain this phenomenon are therefore numerous. Guest of "Bienfait pour vous" on Europe 1, professor Nathalie Massin, specialist in reproduction, gives some advice to optimize your fertility.

>> In recent years, the French have experienced more and more difficulties in conceiving children.

Since the start of the previous decade, the numbers have dropped drastically.

The birth rate was close to 800,000 per year while we are now approaching 700,000 / year.

If the Covid-19 crisis, and the "fear of the next day", can naturally explain this drop, the reasons can be explained by our daily lifestyle.

Guest of the program "Bienfait pour vous" on Europe 1, Pr Nathalie Massin, specialized in reproduction, gives you some advice to optimize your fertility.

>> Find the program Bienfait pour vous in replay and podcast here

Avoid smoking

"Tobacco is as bad for men as it is for women. Statistics show that the chances of conception are roughly halved. For example, you might have girlfriends who conceived their babies then that they smoke like firefighters. Instead of having a baby in 6 months, they would have done it in 3 months. Cannabis use is also a problem. Very entrenched among the youngest, it is all the more problematic at an age when exposure carries a greater risk and is often already associated with tobacco. Also watch out for shisha, which is very bad for the lungs. When you smoke one, it corresponds to a pack of cigarettes So imagine the impact on fertility.

Beware of pesticides

Pesticides are endocrine disruptors. The problem is, they are ubiquitous. It is found everywhere in our everyday objects, for example in scented candles. But also, through plastics, household products, cosmetics. But we can still avoid them. There are small brochures that are very well made, which can be found on the Internet on this subject. What I eat, how I shop, etc. Knowing which product is better to use rather than another, for example, what is better to avoid eating. Reheating food in plastic tupperware is also very bad. These are silly details but can be especially helpful to know when trying to have a baby. 

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Don't be too overwhelmed by stress

There is nothing more stressful than telling yourself to stop stressing, it's even worse!

It's a difficult question to answer because I think it's a bit of a chicken and egg.

Indeed, when we cannot (have children), we become more stressed.

And finally, does it participate in it?

I still think you have to stay a little cool and not feel too guilty.

The studies that have been done to measure stress markers when, for example, an embryo transfer is done, are quite discordant.

Some say there really is no impact, even if the stressors are quite high.

So we have to put it into perspective. "