Is High Blood Pressure Affecting Your Fertility? Here’s What Doctor Shares For Men And Women

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is often discussed in the context of heart disease and stroke, but its impact on fertility is less commonly explored. Infertility has become a growing public health issue in India. Infertility in Indian couples has been progressively growing over the last few decades, from 22.4 percent in the early 1990s to 30.7 percent in 2015-16. Lifestyle changes, late marriages and malnutrition have long been regarded as determinants. However, one of the understated causes is hypertension, well-known for its impact on the heart and kidneys, which also takes a harmful toll on reproductive health in both men and women. Thus, couples who are trying to conceive must understand how blood pressure interacts with the body’s reproductive systems.

In women, high blood pressure interferes with the menstrual cycle, increasing the risk of complications like preeclampsia during pregnancy and reducing uterine blood flow, which is vital for implantation. In men, hypertension has been linked to reduced testosterone levels, decreased libido, and lower sperm count or motility. In conversation with Jagran English, Dr Nishi Singh, an MBBS, DGO, MS(Obstetrics and gynaecology), Head of Fertility, Prime IVF, explains how high blood pressure influences fertility and shares essential guidance for those looking to conceive.

How High Blood Pressure Is Barrier To Conception

Infertility, or not being able to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected sex, affects women and men almost equally—men receive the diagnosis in about 40–50 percent of the occurrences. However, a great deal of the social and emotional burden is left to the women. Dr Nishi Singh shares, “Hypertension has devastating impacts on reproductive health in both genders. It leads to compromise of the blood supply to the reproductive organ, sperm count reduction, and alteration of the shape and motility of the sperm in males. Hypertension-induced erectile dysfunction is another secondary effect that can prevent conception.”

Dr Nishi Singh further adds, “It can reduce the supply of blood to the ovaries and uterus in women, influencing the quality of eggs as well as the chance of successful implantation.” It is more common to occur most frequently in combination with other conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, both of which are leading causes of infertility. Dr Singh explains, “As individuals keep on postponing childbearing, normally declining functioning of fertility function with age, as well as lifestyle aspects like stress, drug or alcohol dependency, and lack of sleep, cause problems in conception.”

Hypertension Affects Fertility (Image Credits: Canva)

Fertility Is An Health Issue

Even with increasing awareness, stigma deters some couples from taking action on the issue on time. Professionals say that infertility is a medical issue and not a fault. Dr Nishi Singh says “Counselling and open communication will change such an attitude. Sadly, however, most women still carry the psychological burden of infertility, which eventually can lead to stress, tension, and, in some cases, even depression, making it more difficult to conceive.”

The path to parenthood is active management: blood pressure control with medication, dietary alteration, stress reduction, exercise, and maintenance of mental status. Regular medical checkups, especially for blood pressure monitoring, may be crucial to identifying and overcoming this imperceptible obstacle to conception. Knowing that hypertension is a silent but controllable force can help couples make healthy, long-term choices along the way to start a family. 

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