In today’s fast-paced, round-the-clock work culture, night shifts have become routine for many individuals. While this may seem like a career necessity, it can also hurt fertility. Frequent night shifts can disturb hormonal balance, reduce sperm quality in men, and affect ovulation in women, making it harder to conceive naturally.

Night shifts disturb the body's circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates hormone production, metabolism, and sleep. Irregular sleep patterns can lead to a spike in stress hormones, insulin resistance, and imbalances in reproductive hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These disruptions not only increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, and mood disorders, but also are linked to growing infertility issues in both sexes.

Dr Rita Modi, senior IVF Consultant, Motherhood Fertility & IVF, Kharghar, “Melatonin, the sleep hormone, also acts as an antioxidant that protects eggs and sperm from oxidative damage. we have seen night shift workers have low melatonin levels, which hampers the egg and sperm quality. Another aspect to note here is that the negative impact of night shifts on fertility isn’t always reversible the moment they switch to day shifts. The disruption in cardiac rhythm over such a long period causes hormonal imbalance, lower ovarian reserve in women, and long-term sperm quality issues in men. Even after getting back to a normal schedule, recovery might not happen completely; it depends on lifestyle factors as well. Frequent night shifts can disrupt hormonal balance, affecting sperm quality in men and ovulation in women. This disturbance in the body’s natural clock may silently induce fertility challenges for both genders. For many of these couples, ART is not just a medical solution but a ray of hope. The sooner they seek help from fertility specialists, the better it is. This is so because they can be guided through tailored treatments and embrace parenthood."