Food and fertility
When I was younger, I thought it will be so easy to get pregnant. During that time, close ones around me were popping out babies left and right. It was not until my husband and I started trying to conceive in our early 30s that we were hit with the hard truth. A year and one painful HSG procedure later, we learned that our only chance for our own child is through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). I was absolutely devastated to learn that my body is not able to do what it is intended to. But I also found I was not alone…about 1 in every 15 struggle with infertility in the US.
So, we buckled down, met with a reproductive endocrinologist to figure our game plan. You might be wondering how nutrition can help throughout a throughout fertility…
Check out the interconnection between the multiple factors that can affect fertility outcomes
Some studies have found normal vitamin D levels were associated with higher embryo quality, increased live births, and improve uterine lining. I figured as a New Yorker going through IVF in the dead of Winter, taking some vitamin D supplement certainly would not hurt. Research suggest foods rich in Omega-3s (such as nuts and fish) and antioxidants contributes to a healthy uterine lining, which is vital for a successful embryo implantation. Did I follow this diet strictly to a T? Not really, but I did my best. Was I hard on myself for it? Absolutely not. The stress of juggling multiple doctor’s appointments, ultrasounds, IVF medications, and bloodwork, with life in general can be physically and emotionally taxing on anyone. It is 100% okay to indulge once in a while. The bigger takeaway is to include more of those type of foods, not so much restricting yourself from foods you enjoy.
References
Chu, J., Gallos, I., Tobias, A., Robinson, L., Kirkman-Brown, J., Dhillon-Smith, R., Harb, H., Eapen, A., Rajkhowa, M., & Coomarasamy, A. (2019). Vitamin D and assisted reproductive treatment outcome: A prospective cohort study. Reproductive Health, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-019-0769-7
Panth, N., Gavarkovs, A., Tamez, M., & Mattei, J. (2018). The influence of diet on fertility and the implications for Public Health Nutrition in the United States. Frontiers in Public Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00211
