Fertility Diet Plans and Your Options Here
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) define infertility or sterility as a disease of the reproductive system characterized by the non-achievement of a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of habitual sexual relations without the use of contraceptive methods.
The prevalence of infertility in Spain is estimated to be 15-17%. Of this percentage, 40% of infertility cases are due to male-caused problems, another 40% to female-caused problems, and the remaining 20% to mixed or idiopathic (unknown) causes. The fertility diet plan is essential there now.
Causes of infertility
Therefore, it is so important to carry out a healthy diet, both to have a good hormonal balance and to have a healthy weight to conceive.
Women
Overweight / Obesity: Body fat is necessary for the production of reproductive hormones, but an excess of it can increase estrogen levels, causing irregular menstrual cycles and hinder ovulation. Various studies indicate that if an overweight and troubled woman loses between 5% and 10% of her weight, the chances of getting pregnant can be significantly increased. Therefore, in cases of overweight or obesity, a diet to lose weight will be one of the first steps to follow.
Men
Overweight: Being overweight and obese, in addition to associated high insulin levels, can lower testosterone levels, affecting sperm production. In addition, a large amount of fat in the abdomen has been associated with an increase in aromatase, an enzyme that is responsible for converting testosterone into estrogens, again affecting the generation of sperm.
Low weight: The relationship between low weight and male fertility is not well studied, but it has been seen that insufficient weight can cause a lower quality and quantity of sperm.
Other factors affecting women’s fertility
Infertility is a multifactorial disease and we can classify its causes in:
Age: Age is the most important factor related to low ovarian reserve (ability of the ovaries to produce eggs) and fertility. The number of oocytes is conditioned from birth and when it reaches 37 years of age it falls sharply. Therefore, over the years the quantity and quality of these eggs diminishes.
Hormonal problems: Stress, emotions, diet and sedentary lifestyle, among others, can impact and generate changes in the hormonal system, causing ovulation problems. One of the best known cases is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is insulin resistant, being considered a pre-diabetic state. Living a healthy lifestyle helps control insulin resistance, improving the function of the ovaries. Since PCOS increases the blood glucose level, it can be helpful for pregnant women with the syndrome to have gestational diabetes tests done before they are normally prescribed.
Endometriosis: Consists of the migration of endometrial tissue from the uterus to another part of the body, which may compromise follicular development, ovulation, embryonic development and implantation, causing pain and inflammation. To reduce symptoms, it is advisable to promote the consumption of anti-inflammatory foods (blue fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, spices, etc.). In this article we tell you more about the proper diet for endometriosis.
