Those whose rotas varied took longer to conceive a child, and were more likely
to suffer menstrual disruption, according to the study.
Women who only worked night shifts did not suffer when trying to conceive, but
were significantly more likely to have a miscarriage, it found.
Researchers analysed all studies on the subject since 1969, providing data on
119,345 women.
They found that those whose shifts varied, mixing up daytime, evening and
night working, had an 80 per cent higher rate of subfertility – meaning that
they were unable to conceive within 12 months – compared with those working
regular hours.
Women working irregular patterns also had a 33 per cent higher rate of
menstrual disruption, according to the findings.
Women who worked only nights had a 29 per cent increased rate of miscarriage,
the study found.
Previous research has linked shift work, which causes sleep deprivation and disruption to the body clock, with ill health, but few studies have examined its impact on fertility.
Dr Linden Stocker, a clinical research fellow at Southampton and the lead investigator, said that the study did not establish why irregular shifts were associated with fertility problems.
But she said that disruption of the body clock might influence “clock genes” which have been shown to affect biological functions. She said: “Shift workers adopt poor 'sleep hygiene’, suffer sleep deprivation and develop activity levels that are out of sync with their body clock.”
Changes in working patterns might also have social or psychological effects. Dr Stocker said: “If replicated, our findings have implications for women attempting to become pregnant, as well as for their employers.”
The study was presented by a team from the University of Southampton at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in London.
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Previous research has linked shift work, which causes sleep deprivation and disruption to the body clock, with ill health, but few studies have examined its impact on fertility.
Dr Linden Stocker, a clinical research fellow at Southampton and the lead investigator, said that the study did not establish why irregular shifts were associated with fertility problems.
But she said that disruption of the body clock might influence “clock genes” which have been shown to affect biological functions. She said: “Shift workers adopt poor 'sleep hygiene’, suffer sleep deprivation and develop activity levels that are out of sync with their body clock.”
Changes in working patterns might also have social or psychological effects. Dr Stocker said: “If replicated, our findings have implications for women attempting to become pregnant, as well as for their employers.”
The study was presented by a team from the University of Southampton at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in London.
FOLLOW US:https://twitter.com/PlaneHealth http://www.facebook.com/PlaneHealth
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