High Blood Pressure : How it impacts Fertility

High blood pressure is among the alarming clinical issues. It reduces personal well-being, stressing the organs and the vital organ systems that can destabilise the natural physiological phenomena, which include spermatogenesis and the menstrual cycle.

Hypertension affects mental stability vital for sexual union. It also affects the vital organs, which could lead to sudden death. People with a family history of hypertension can develop high blood pressure symptoms later in life.

What is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure (BP), also called hypertension, is when the force of blood against your artery walls is too high. Doctors typically diagnose high blood pressure when the systolic reading (top number) is 130 mmHg or higher and/or the diastolic reading (bottom number) is 80 mmHg or higher.

The tricky part is that you might not have any symptoms, so regular checkups are a must.

High Blood Pressure and Fertility: Overview

High blood pressure is a silent killer that reduces fertility by destroying the optimal environment required for the healthy development of sperm and ovum.

Our natural blood pressure (120/80) denotes systolic pressure (120 mm) and diastolic pressure (80 mm), respectively. A high blood pressure range (beyond 120/80) for a brief period harms the seminiferous tubules, affecting sperm production.

Since women are more stressed than men, their menstrual cycle gets affected. High blood pressure disrupts body hormones, leading to frequent miscarriages, which affects pregnancy plans if both partners have abnormal blood pressure.

How is Male Virility Affected by High Blood Pressure?

Male virility comprises enhanced semen potential to fertilise with little or no reproductive help. High blood pressure affects sperm production and leads to low sperm count. This can negatively impact virility. In some cases, it might even lead to male infertility.

Having prolonged hypertension undiagnosed can lead to various sperm abnormalities:

• Erectile dysfunction

• Poor semen volume

• Limited sperm motility

• Abnormal sperm morphology

Men have more reasons for high blood pressure in adulthood, chasing disciplines that can lead to underlying hypertension.

Also, lack of sleep, sedentary lifestyle and underlying illness are additional factors which diminish male virility. It leads to difficulty in natural insemination (passage of sperm into the uterus), affecting the chances of pregnancy.

How does the High Blood Pressure Range Affect Female Fertility?

Women are more sensitive than men, meaning they’ll show adverse underlying complications. High blood pressure in women damages the follicles, reducing the chances of natural fertilisation.

Besides, developing hypertension triggers the female hormones responsible for balancing the reproductive cycle; it affects the menstrual cycle, disturbing the overall wellness required for optimal fertility.

Side effects of high blood pressure include:

• Lacking passion for sexual union

• Reduced sensitivity of vagina (poor orgasm)

• Frequent miscarriage (poor implantation)

• Preeclampsia symptoms (gestational hypertension)

• Bad egg quality

Women show high blood pressure symptoms later than men, but issues like abnormal BMI, PCOS, and work-life imbalance worsens hypertension.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Pregnancy

Even successful implantation faces serious complications, and hypertension is an underlying reason for pregnancy complications.

Here are the possible gestation complications women with high blood pressure symptoms may experience:

• Foetal complications (umbilical cord knot)

• Abrupt seizure

• Premature birth

• Placental complications (detaching before delivery)

• Mild stroke from hypertension

• Preeclampsia symptoms

Women with a clinical history of high blood pressure require preventive care to ensure a smooth gestational period and safe childbirth. These symptoms appear in the first trimester and often risk damage to the developing foetus.

Gynaecologists suggest high blood pressure treatment before conceiving to prevent post-pregnancy complications.

What Causes High Blood Pressure among Potential Couples?

Most people develop high blood pressure from lifestyle or genetic issues. Without immediate treatment for high blood pressure at home, fertility and virility get reduced, affecting natural fertilisation.

Here are the leading reasons that escalate hypertension:

• Poor lifestyle (sedentary)

• Habitual addiction (drinking, smoking)

• Stressful work

• Overweight (obesity)

• Pre-existing illness (thyroid)

• Lacking mental peace (anxiety and depression)

• Consuming steroids (muscle building or virility enhancer)

A systolic blood pressure beyond 130 mm (stage 1 hypertension) requires clinical treatment to prevent preeclampsia during pregnancy. Sudden high blood pressure can lead to stroke during delivery, making it risky for both mother and baby.

How High Blood Pressure Affects Pregnancy

High BP during pregnancy can be dangerous for both you and your baby. It can lead to:

• Pre-eclampsia: A serious condition that can cause premature birth, low birth weight, and other problems if not treated

• Premature birth and low birth weight: Your baby might come too early or be too small

• Miscarriage and stillbirth: The risk goes up if your BP is not under control

How to Lower your Blood Pressure before Trying for a Baby?

Getting your BP under control before conception is key. Here are some things that can help:

1. Lifestyle changes:

   • Eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean protein

   • Cut back on salt

   • Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days

   • Keep a healthy weight

   • Find ways to relax and manage stress, like yoga or meditation

2. Medicines:

   • Talk to your doctor about BP meds that are safe if you’re trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant. Some can mess with your fertility or harm your baby.

Types of Hypertension

Hypertension is categorised into various types based on its causes and stages. Understanding these classifications is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Cause-based types of hypertension:

1. Primary (Essential) Hypertension

Primary hypertension, or essential hypertension, is the most common form. It develops gradually over time without a specific identifiable cause. Factors contributing to primary hypertension include:

• Genetics

• Age

• Lifestyle choices (e.g., high salt intake, obesity, lack of physical activity)

• Stress

This type accounts for about 90-95% of all hypertension cases.

2. Secondary Hypertension

Secondary hypertension results from an underlying medical condition. It can develop suddenly and is often more severe than primary hypertension. Common causes include:

• Kidney disease

• Adrenal gland disorders

• Thyroid problems

• Coarctation of the aorta

• Obstructive sleep apnea

Approximately 5-10% of hypertension cases are classified as secondary. Symptoms may include resistant hypertension, where blood pressure remains high despite treatment.

Stage-based hypertension types

Hypertension is also classified into stages based on blood pressure readings:

A hypertensive crisis can be further divided into hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency, depending on the presence of acute organ damage.

Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Hypertension during pregnancy is classified into four main types:

1. Gestational Hypertension

This occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy and is characterized by high blood pressure without protein in the urine. It usually resolves after delivery but requires monitoring as it can progress to more severe conditions.

2. Chronic Hypertension

Chronic hypertension exists before pregnancy or is diagnosed before the 20th week. It requires ongoing management to prevent complications such as preeclampsia.

3. Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia develops after the 20th week and involves high blood pressure along with protein in the urine and other symptoms like swelling and headaches. It poses significant risks to both mother and baby if not managed properly.

4. Eclampsia

Eclampsia is a severe progression of preeclampsia that includes seizures. It requires immediate medical attention.

Diagnosis of High Blood Pressure Symptoms

People with abnormally high blood pressure range face:

• Chest pain

• Irregular heartbeat

• Frequent sweating

• Profuse fatigue or feeling tired

• Breathing issues

• Nose bleeding

• Headaches

If you experience at least one of these symptoms, immediately visit your physician to get diagnosed with a potentially high blood pressure range.

Treatment to Control High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a treatable condition. It’s gradually reduced through a preventive lifestyle and clinical care to prevent sudden illness.

Hypertension affects pregnancy or fertility and requires immediate treatment for high blood pressure through the following methods:

• Reducing stress (mindfulness, yoga)

• Consuming a restricted diet (low in salt, rich in HDL, green vegetables, legumes, lentils)

• Daily exercise (optimal BMI, body weight, reducing abdominal fat)

• Vasodilating medications (telmisartan)

• A complete ban on eating a fat-rich diet, alcoholism and smoking

Tips to Prevent High Blood Pressure

Hypertension prevention requires stringent measures, including following a preventive lifestyle to eliminate the reasons for high blood pressure. It includes:

• Abstaining for activities that lead to a sudden rise in heartbeat

• Reducing stressors that trigger you (no late-night activities as it triggers stress)

• Reducing stationary posture, especially after a meal

• Embracing limited physical activity instead of leading a sedentary lifestyle

• Red meat, processed foods, canned products, deep fried edibles are among foods to avoid with a high blood pressure range

Preventing high blood pressure requires leading a curtailed lifestyle to keep the hypertension triggers under check. Also, if you have a high blood pressure range in the family, take extra caution to prevent reproductive complications.

Conclusion: Reducing High Blood Pressure

When planning pregnancy, optimal stability of physical vitalities and mental state is mandatory to ensure a healthy baby is born. While individuals having high blood pressure symptoms can get pregnant naturally, it requires stabilising the body vitals to prevent untoward issues.

Seek immediate treatment for high blood pressure at home to neutralise potential stressors, take clinical help and consult with your gynaecologist to ensure couples can conceive naturally.

CTA: Pregnancy plans troubled by high blood pressure symptoms? Visit your nearest Birla Fertility & IVF clinic to consult veteran gynaecologists for emergency treatment for high blood pressure at home.

FAQs

1. What causes high blood pressure during gestation?

High blood pressure symptoms during pregnancy could happen from pre-existing hypertension or lifestyle issues (excess work, lack of sleep), taking your blood pressure out of range.

2. How prevalent are high blood pressure symptoms?

High blood pressure conditions are prevalent among men more than women (below 60 years). Both working men and women with poor health are vulnerable to hypertension. It can severely reduce virility and fertility, reducing the chances of natural fertilisation.

3. What is the emergency treatment for high blood pressure at home?

High blood pressure symptoms can return to normal significantly through stress reduction. While it cleanses your mental state, clinical treatment is required if underlying issues (diabetes, thyroid) triggers your blood pressure.

4. How to define high blood pressure during pregnancy?

Gestational hypertension comprises a high blood pressure range exceeding 140/90. It’s equivalent to having stage 2 hypertension in an adult. Such a woman has normal blood pressure till the last quarter of the second trimester (20 weeks) with no trace of protein passing through urine (proteinuria).