Irish Wedding News
10/07/2013
The study, which was carried out by Southampton University, suggests that an erratic work pattern, such as shift routines, carry a higher risk of miscarriage, irregular periods and fertility problems compared to a nine-to-five routine.
Shift workers are also twice as likely to be classed sub-fertile, which means they fail to get pregnant within a year.
More than 100,000 women took part in the research and found that those working patterns other than permanent day shifts increased the odds of the menstrual cycle being disrupted by a fifth, while miscarriages were almost a third more common. Of those who worked only nights, they were 80% more likely to struggle to conceive than those who worked days.
However, experts have said the research is not yet conclusive and have urged women of childbearing age not to quit their jobs.
Researcher Dr Linden Stocker, a paediatrician who works shifts herself, said that the problems could be caused by working and sleeping at irregular times which disrupts a woman's body clock, which helps control key functions including hormone production, temperature, blood pressure and heart rate.
Dr Stocker also said that additional factors could also play a role, such as shift workers tending to lead an unhealthier lifestyle by being more likely to eat badly or do less exercise.
Speaking to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, she explained: "We don't fully understand why shift workers have an increased risk of certain diseases but obviously shift work impacts on your biological functioning, your psychological functioning and your social functioning.
"If our results are confirmed by other studies, there may be implications for shift workers and their reproductive plans. More friendly shift patterns could be adopted where practical.
"We all know that in order to optimise your reproductive functioning, it is important to take into account other things as sleep.
"It is important that women get as much rest as possible, that they maintain a well-balanced diet, they take appropriate amounts of exercise and as, a shift worker myself, I appreciate that it's important to make sure you optimise the rest time you've got in order to maximise your well-being."
Previously, the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledged that working shifts may increase a woman's chances of developing breast cancer, by cutting production of a hormone that normally keeps tumours in check, while the Royal College of Physicians has linked shift work to premature birth and underweight babies.
The latest study by Southampton University is one of the first to look at the very beginnings of pregnancy.
(JP/CD)
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Women Who Work Shifts More Likely To Have Fertility Problems
Women who work night shifts are said to find it 80% more difficult to have a baby, according to new research.The study, which was carried out by Southampton University, suggests that an erratic work pattern, such as shift routines, carry a higher risk of miscarriage, irregular periods and fertility problems compared to a nine-to-five routine.
Shift workers are also twice as likely to be classed sub-fertile, which means they fail to get pregnant within a year.
More than 100,000 women took part in the research and found that those working patterns other than permanent day shifts increased the odds of the menstrual cycle being disrupted by a fifth, while miscarriages were almost a third more common. Of those who worked only nights, they were 80% more likely to struggle to conceive than those who worked days.
However, experts have said the research is not yet conclusive and have urged women of childbearing age not to quit their jobs.
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Researcher Dr Linden Stocker, a paediatrician who works shifts herself, said that the problems could be caused by working and sleeping at irregular times which disrupts a woman's body clock, which helps control key functions including hormone production, temperature, blood pressure and heart rate.
Dr Stocker also said that additional factors could also play a role, such as shift workers tending to lead an unhealthier lifestyle by being more likely to eat badly or do less exercise.
Speaking to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, she explained: "We don't fully understand why shift workers have an increased risk of certain diseases but obviously shift work impacts on your biological functioning, your psychological functioning and your social functioning.
"If our results are confirmed by other studies, there may be implications for shift workers and their reproductive plans. More friendly shift patterns could be adopted where practical.
"We all know that in order to optimise your reproductive functioning, it is important to take into account other things as sleep.
"It is important that women get as much rest as possible, that they maintain a well-balanced diet, they take appropriate amounts of exercise and as, a shift worker myself, I appreciate that it's important to make sure you optimise the rest time you've got in order to maximise your well-being."
Previously, the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledged that working shifts may increase a woman's chances of developing breast cancer, by cutting production of a hormone that normally keeps tumours in check, while the Royal College of Physicians has linked shift work to premature birth and underweight babies.
The latest study by Southampton University is one of the first to look at the very beginnings of pregnancy.
(JP/CD)
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