There is suspicion that the incidence of infertility is increasing. Many women are unaware as to how important these lifestyle choices can be with regard to future attempts to conceive. These authors did an extensive review of the literature to determine how much different life choices affect a woman's ability to later conceive.
Obesity has a strong association with infertility and menstrual irregularities.
Group treatment programs that assist obese women with diet and exercise plans have shown return of fertility in many patients. It is thought that the improvement in insulin resistance has more to do with restoring ovulation than the actual amount of weight or weight loss itself. Low weight and weight loss is also associated with ovulatory dysfunction and thus infertility. I want to put off having children until our careers provide more opportunity. It is quite common for women to pursue educational and career opportunities and put off childbearing into the late 30's and early 40's.