Women are facing fertility problems at an increasingly early age due to lifestyle habits and environmental exposure, according to gynecologist and reproductive specialist Maria Milyutina in an interview with Russian news agency NSN.
Milyutina urged women to measure their anti-Müllerian hormone levels starting at age 25 and to monitor the biomarker continuously throughout their reproductive years.
Smoking, improper nutrition, and a protein deficiency are among the clearest factors accelerating the reduction of a woman's reproductive age, according to Milyutina. She added that unassessed factors, such as toxic plastics and chemical substances, may also disrupt cell maturation and potentially harm cellular development as early as the prenatal stage.
To safeguard reproductive health, Milyutina advised women against following restrictive diets, urged them to eliminate tobacco use entirely, and recommended maintaining a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
Understanding ovarian reserve and lifestyle risks
Anti-Müllerian hormone, known as AMH, is a protein produced by tissues in the ovaries that serves as a primary indicator of a woman's ovarian reserve. Because females are born with a finite pool of eggs that decreases with age, blood tests measuring AMH allow reproductive endocrinologists to estimate the remaining egg supply and identify early signs of diminished fertility.
Nutritional balance and protein intake play critical roles in biological health by supplying amino acids necessary for hormone synthesis and tissue repair. Meanwhile, environmental research has increasingly focused on toxic plastics and synthetic chemicals, which can act as endocrine disruptors that interfere with natural reproductive hormones.
Menopause and cardiovascular disease risks
The warnings regarding female fertility follow separate advice from cardiologist Diego Araiza concerning health risks later in life. Araiza stated that women experience a higher risk of cardiovascular catastrophes during menopause, noting that preventative cardiovascular care must be tailored to individual risk factors.
Menopause marks the biological end of menstrual cycles and natural reproductive capacity, typically accompanied by significant hormonal shifts. Estrogen naturally helps protect blood vessel function, and its decline during menopause can contribute to changes in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and elevated risks of heart attacks or strokes.
NSN, short for National News Service, is a Russian media outlet that regularly distributes expert reporting on healthcare, public policy, and medical developments.
