High Cholesterol may Cause Delayed Pregnancy: Study

Statistics show that nearly 71 million adult Americans have "bad cholesterol," also known as high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). For those looking to start a family in particular, this can present a problem.

A recent study shows that high cholesterol levels can make it more difficult to conceive a child.

"From our data, it would appear that high cholesterol levels not only increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, but also reduce couples' chances of pregnancy," said Dr. Enrique Schisterman, chief of the Epidemiology Branch at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), via a press release. Study results also revealed that if only the woman has high cholesterol, this can also decrease the likelihood of conception.

Researchers believe that high cholesterol levels may disrupt the regulation of testosterone and estrogen, sex hormones needed for pregnancy.

For the study, researchers at the NIH, the University of Buffalo and Emory University, examined 501 couples form 2005 to 2009, all part  of the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment. This year-long study is designed to examine how environmental and lifestyle factors affect health and fertility issues for couples.

All involved couples were trying to achieve pregnancy but had not undergone any fertility treatments, ranging in age from 18 to 44 years old. All male participants were over the age of 18, and all of the couples lived in either Michigan or Texas.

Study participants were required to provide blood samples that showed cholesterol levels. Researchers used HDL and LDL levels to calculated the likelihood of pregnancy and how long it might have taken to conceive.

They found that women who did not become pregnant during the study were likely to have higher cholesterol levels than others.

Researchers advised that couples looking to have better luck conceiving, as well as healthier pregnancies, lead healthier lifestyles and work to keep cholesterol levels low.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the JCEM, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.