Climate change is no longer just a story of melting ice caps, erratic monsoons, or rising sea levels. It is increasingly a story told through our bodies. As temperatures climb and environmental instability becomes the new norm, scientists and doctors are uncovering a less visible, deeply personal consequence of the climate crisis: its impact on human fertility. While the connection may not be immediately obvious, a warming planet is subtly influencing reproductive health in ways that demand urgent attention.
How heat and pollution are disrupting reproductive biology
According to Dr Arvind Vaid, gynaecologist and IVF specialist, Indira IVF, Delhi, the female reproductive system is especially vulnerable to rising temperatures. “Elevated ambient temperatures can disrupt the secretion of crucial reproductive hormones such as gonadotropins (LH and FSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), impairing oocyte development, early embryonic growth and fetal health,” he explains. He adds that excessive heat exposure during pregnancy increases risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and gestational complications.
This disruption isn’t limited to women. “Increased ambient temperatures can impair spermatogenesis, leading to lower sperm count and higher DNA damage,” warns Dr Hina Shaikh, consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Navi Mumbai. Heatwaves, becoming more frequent due to climate change, pose an acute threat to sperm quality, motility, and morphology.
Air quality is another critical factor. Dr Vaid notes that “air pollution, increasingly worsened by climate factors like wildfires, directly raises pregnancy loss rates and reduces fertility chances.” Dr Shaikh echoes this concern, citing that “endocrine-disrupting chemicals present in air, water and food can reduce sperm count, decrease egg quality and alter puberty timing.”
Beyond Heat: Nutrition, infection, and IVF outcomes at risk
Climate change doesn’t just affect temperature. It impacts agriculture, disease patterns, and food security. “Climate change can disrupt crop yields, leading to micronutrient deficiencies, such as zinc, iron, and selenium, that are essential for maintaining fertility,” says Dr Shaikh. These deficiencies can compromise both male and female reproductive function.
Rising temperatures are also increasing the spread of vector-borne diseases. Dr Shaikh points out that infections such as malaria or dengue can impair fertility, and viruses like Zika are linked to congenital defects and infertility.
For couples undergoing fertility treatments, environmental instability brings additional complications. Poor air quality, Dr Vaid says, can decrease IVF success rates and contribute to embryo transfer failures.
The psychological toll of a changing climate
Extreme weather events, from heatwaves to floods, can heighten stress levels, another silent disruptor of fertility. Dr Shaikh explains that “chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which is known to impair reproductive health.”
Climate change is reshaping reproductive health through heat stress, pollution, nutritional shifts, infectious diseases, and psychological strain. While fertility is often discussed in terms of age, lifestyle or genetics, environmental factors are now emerging as powerful determinants. Recognising these links is the first step toward protecting future generations in a world increasingly altered by climate.
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