[caption id="attachment_71976" align="aligncenter" width="640"] To bacon, or not to bacon? For men trying to have children, it could be a question of how badly they want to conceive, if the results of a recent study linking processed meat consumption to reduced male fertility rates are accurate. The photograph was taken by Renee Comet for the National Cancer Institute in 1994.[/caption]

There is new information coming out of Harvard University claiming that eating bacon and other processed meats daily could reduce your chances of conceiving a baby.

According to The Telegraph, researchers at Harvard University studied 156 men that complained of having difficulty conceiving a baby with their partner. The study found that men who consumed processed meat daily had 30 percent less normal sperm than men who refrained from eating these foods.

“We found the effect of processed meat intake lowered quality and fish raised quality,” said lead researcher Dr. Myriam Afeiche.

This study is just further evidence that diet and lifestyle choices can affect a man's fertility. Researchers also found that men who consumed white fish, like cod and halibut, had healthier sperm.

However, fertility experts are quick to caution that this is a small study and further research needs to be done before determining a link between processed foods and fertility. It is recommended that if you are having trouble conceiving, consult with a fertility specialist in your area. While a healthy diet and exercise have been shown to increase a man's fertility, it is still unknown just how much of an impact processed foods have on the vitality of sperm. Reducing stress has also been shown to increase sperm's vitality and a couple's chances of conceiving a baby.

“In this instance, the authors link men’s intake of processed meat with the size and shape of their sperm,” Pacey said. “This may be a real effect, but the study is small and we know that accurately measuring sperm size and shape in the laboratory is fraught with error.”