Infertility Genes May Predict Lifespan
Imagine a life without children. What would that look like?
If you say this to anyone going through infertility, this will likely trigger a negative reaction. It’s a sensitive topic. As someone who’s in the thick of it, I get it. My jump reaction to this question includes expletives or more tamed down versions of:
“What do you mean a life without children?”
“Are you assuming that nothing will ever work?”
“You’re not helping here. This is all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I can’t image a life without children. That’s the whole point.”
Pretty abrasive responses - I know. They all affirm the feelings of frustration, animosity, and how life just doesn’t seem fair. It’s easier to gravitate towards the negative. Admittedly, I get tired of the negative. It seems to carry around a heavier weight mentally compared to the brighter side of life. And well, life isn’t fun anymore when you focus on the problems that seem to have no solutions in sight.
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” - Wayne Dyer
I launched Sunny Side Bump for several reasons, but most selfishly I wanted a therapeutic channel to find the “sunny side” to infertility. This included a challenge for myself to see the positive side in going through these obstacles. I didn’t want to continually read about the failed transfer attempts nor did I want read about the successful transfer attempts either.
Catch-22. Welcome to my world.
And then I came across research indicating that genes that boost fertility may also decrease lifespans. Interesting concept.
Tell me more.
Let’s take it way back to George Williams, an American evolutionary biologist who proposed a theory that the genetic mutations that increase fertility could also cause harm later in life. More recent international studies found evidence to support Williams’ theory finding gene mutations that bolster fertility could increase “bodily damage later in life.”
A 2011 study also confirmed the inverse relationship between reproduction and lifespan. There are two aging theories are under this umbrella:
Antagonistic pleiotropy theory emphasizes the genetic trade-off finding genes that increase fertility earlier in life may contribute to an increased risk in disease and mortality later in life.
Disposable soma theory focuses on the energy and metabolic costs of reproducing which, in turn, may lead to an increased risk of disease, thus contributing to a higher mortality rate.
Olivia Campbell’s 2017 article, The Curious Case of Motherhood and Longevity, dives into this topic through an international lens. There’s actually conflicting results when examining the relationship between fertility genes and lifespan. Depending on external factors including socioeconomic status, diet, and environment, there were no notable differences in lifespan between those who had no children and those who had 4+. Again, the studies vary quite a bit and each of their results makes this an even more heated debate in the women’s health community.
Did I get my hopes up in finding a bright light in not having children?
It’s complicated. Yes and no. Science doesn’t point me to any one direction however the argument is compelling. According to a 2002 study published in The Journals of Gerontology,
“Extensive reproductive activity drains resources that would otherwise be available for maintenance, and as a consequence increased reproduction is assumed to be associated with shortened life span according to this hypothesis.”
Makes sense which makes me question how long OR how many attempts we should be pushing for before making the decision of…
“No more trying.”
This is a tough pill to swallow for anyone going through infertility. Coming from a data-driven school of logic, I question the amount of rounds of infertility treatment I should push my body before finding there’s an inverse relationship between trying and trying too hard. At some point, I may be doing my body more harm than good. Is this risk worth the reward? Is the potential of shortening my lifespan worth it for a child that I may or may not eventually bring into this world? And so… I go back to the original question:
Imagine a life without children. What would that look like?
(Extended) years of continued happiness with my husband
Opportunity to live abroad without any worries on how a child would grow up internationally
Freedom to take on new hobbies irrespective of childcare obligations
Space to grow professionally in my career
Added flexibility (and money) to make life transitions
Time, space, and mental focus to reexamine what happiness means to me.
Sunny side bump,
Olivia
