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0:00:00.000,0:00:05.000 (text on screen): Ask the Expert 0:00:05.000,0:00:07.000 Fertility Authority. Your Most Trusted Source 0:00:07.000,0:00:12.000 What lifestyle factors affect fertility? 0:00:12.000,0:00:18.000 David L. Keefe, M.D., NYU Fertility Center: While we don't completely understand all the factors that determine egg quality, 0:00:18.000,0:00:25.000 there are a number of lifestyle factors that are known to be associated with poor egg quality. 0:00:25.000,0:00:32.000 For example, women that smoke, particularly women that smoke early on in their lives, continue to smoke, and smoke heavily 0:00:32.000,0:00:35.000 have lower egg quality. 0:00:35.000,0:00:37.000 They tend to go through menopause a little earlier. 0:00:37.000,0:00:43.000 They have lower fertility when they go through any given treatment than women who didn't smoke. 0:00:43.000,0:00:47.000 There are some genetic conditions that cause early deterioration of eggs. 0:00:47.000,0:00:59.000 Women that are carriers of a premutation in the Fragile X mutation are predisposed to early menopause and disrupted egg quality. 0:00:59.000,0:01:08.000 Some women who are too overweight or too underweight may have subtle abnormalities in egg quality. 0:01:08.000,0:01:13.000 So, the secret to maintaining healthy egg quality is to avoid smoking. 0:01:13.000,0:01:19.000 Whenever possible, avoid drugs that can disrupt egg quality. 0:01:19.000,0:01:26.000 And, of course, if you carry genetic problems, have those tested before you attempt to conceive, 0:01:26.000,0:01:32.000 such as Fragile X or other genetic problems that are predisposed to early menopause. 0:01:32.000,0:01:36.000 (text on screen): Ask the Expert 0:01:36.000,0:01:37.000 Fertility Authority. Your Most Trusted Source