Can Lifestyle Factors of Diabetes Mellitus Patients Affect Their Fertility?

An increase in the number of diabetics diagnosed at a young age has coincided with worldwide concerns over the fertility status of these individuals. Infertility is already a major health problem in both the developed and developing world, with up to one in six couples requiring specialist investigation or treatments in order to conceive (Agbaje et al., 2007). Diabetes mellitus (DM) has impacted directly and indirectly on the fertility of couples (Glenn et al., 2003). It may affect both male and female reproductive function at multiple levels as a result of its effects on the endocrine system as well as on vasculature (Sexton and Jarow, 1997).