The Value of the Right Diet During Fertility Treatment

As you learn more about how to best manage your fertility you will quickly find that there is more to it than just medication, tracking your cycle, and doctor appointments. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an important part of your fertility treatment. One of the essential things you can do to improve your chances of successfully conceiving is following a sensitive fertility diet.

The Role of Diet in Fertility Treatment

A fertility sensitive diet may look similar to other traditional “diets” found in the mainstream. However, there are some very important differences that can help a couple finally conceive a child. Whether you are in the early stages of your treatment or on your fourth round of IVF, understanding how to adopt a fertility diet can be a key part of your journey. Subscribing to this fertility regimen will help you cut the foods that might be keeping you from achieving your dream of parenthood. It will also help highlight the foods that boost fertility.

What is a Fertility Diet?

There are a few very important things to know about ideal fertility foods and following a  fertility diet. A low-carb diet is a must when it comes to conception. Many women who are battling infertility will benefit from low-carb foods that are part of an insulin resistance diet. Foods that are best known for keeping your critical hormones in the right balance for optimum fertility are ones that are low on the glycemic index.

Best Fertility-Friendly Foods

There are a number of foods that patients should try to include in as many meals as possible. A study at Harvard University helped to more clearly define the foods that should be included while undergoing fertility treatments, like IVF. Some of their recommendations include:

Opt for unsaturated vegetable oils

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are known to increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin and reduce inflammation, both of which support fertility. Include vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and salmon in your daily diet.

Know your carbs

When undergoing fertility treatments, it isn’t necessary to completely eliminate carbs in your diet. Instead, opt for slowly digested carbohydrates that are rich in fiber (such as whole grains, vegetables, whole fruits, and beans) rather than their quickly digested counterparts which cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to spike.

Up your iron intake

Be sure to include iron-rich foods like whole-grain cereals, spinach, beans, pumpkin, tomatoes, and beets, as they are known to help with fertility. Iron stores are important for both fertility, as well as pregnancy. Many experts have cited the fact that low levels of iron can lead to lack of ovulation as well as reduced egg health. It is also important to note that iron deficiency can lead to anemia during pregnancy, which can prohibit the production of red blood cells needed for a healthy pregnancy.

Turn to vegetable protein

By cutting one serving of meat with a vegetable protein like beans, peas, soybeans or tofu, or nuts, you can help balance hormones and promote fertility. Vegetable protein sources are also helpful for your iron level. Heme iron is found only in meat, poultry, seafood, and fish, while non-heme iron, is found in plant-based foods. Research suggests that non-heme iron may decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility.

Staying properly hydrated

When choosing what to sip, water if your best choice when undergoing fertility treatments. A hydrated body is a healthy body and nutritional experts agree that a minimum of eight glasses of water a day is ideal. You can still enjoy coffee, tea, and alcohol in moderation but stay away from sugary drinks like sodas.

Foods to Avoid When Trying to Conceive

Cut back on saturated and trans fats

High levels of saturated fat intake have been correlated with both male and female infertility. Pay attention to the types of fat you include in your diet. Artery-clogging trans fats bad rep isn’t without reason. In addition to threatening the wellness of your heart and blood vessels, they also can impact your rate of infertility. Avoiding both unhealthy fats is a good idea.

Limit alcohol consumption

Much like caffeine, alcohol is fine in moderation but can be a fertility buster in extreme amounts. We recommend minimizing alcohol intake leading up to and during infertility treatments.

Pay attention to caffeine intake

While caffeine is fine in moderation, in high quantities (>300 mg/day) it may delay the time it takes to conceive. So, while you may still want to enjoy your favorite cup of tea or coffee, don’t overdo it. One study found that women who avoided alcohol and consumed one cup or less of coffee conceived 26.9 pregnancies per 100 menstrual cycles, compared with just 10.5 per 100 cycles in women who drank any alcohol and consumed more than one cup of coffee daily.

Steer clear of skim milk

At Caperton Fertility Institute, we know firsthand how struggling to become pregnant can be a life altering experience. When all you want is to become a parent, infertility can feel like a dark cloud that looms overhead. While fertility treatments can help you achieve your ultimate dream, diet is an ever-important piece of the infertility puzzle, and an important step on your path to parenthood. Our staff will be happy to address any questions you may have about your dietary regime leading up to or while undergoing fertility treatment for a more promising, positive outcome.

References

  1. “About Glycemic Index.” Glycemic Index Foundation, www.gisymbol.com/about-glycemic-index/.
  2. “Boosting Your Fertility: Lifestyle Modifications.” RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.
  3. Chavarro, J E, et al. “Iron Intake and Risk of Ovulatory Infertility.” Obstetrics and Gynecology., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2006.
  4. Dadkhah, Hajar et al. “The Relationship between the Amount of Saturated Fat Intake and Semen Quality in Men.” Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research 22.1 (2017): 46–50. PMC. Web. 22 Mar. 2018.
  5. “Female Fertility: Why Lifestyle Choices Count.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 June 2015.
  6. Hakim, R B, et al. “Alcohol and Caffeine Consumption and Decreased Fertility.” Fertility and Sterility., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 1998, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9797089.
  7. Harvard Health Publishing. “Follow The Fertility Diet?” Harvard Health, May 2009.
  8. Mumford, Sunni L et al. “Dietary Fat Intake and Reproductive Hormone Concentrations and Ovulation in Regularly Menstruating Women.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 103.3 (2016): 868–877. PMC. Web. 22 Mar. 2018.