By Dr. Helen Kim, Naturopathic Doctor
Preconception health is vital in setting the foundations for healthy pregnancy and birth. Whether you are planning to conceive next year or already working with a fertility clinic, there are ways you can increase your chances.
Here are 3 simple ways you can increase your fertility chances:
-
Fiber
Increasing your daily fibre intake may with positively increase your fertility. Studies have shown that a simple increase of daily fibre intake by 10g is correlated with 44% lower risk of ovulatory infertility. Some of the food sources of fibre include, oats, avocados, sweet potatoes, and fruits. 1
-
Fish and omega 3 fatty acids
Substituting red meat for more vegetable and fish proteins sources may improve your fertility chances. Studies have shown that eating more fish proteins in your diet is associated with higher live birth rate in IVF fertility treatments. Specifically, omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA can improve egg and sperm qualities, as well as aid in fetal brain development. Best food sources of omega 3s are salmon, sardines, trout, hemp seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, and chia seeds. 2
-
Supplements: Prenatal with folate, vitamin D
Taking a prenatal or multivitamin containing folate has shown to increase likelihood of implantation and live births. 3 In addition, vitamin D is an anti-inflammatory, fat-soluble vitamin that is vital in improving egg quality, as well as improving implantation and live births rates in IVF treatments. 4
There are other aspects to consider in your fertility journey such as testing your hormone levels, regulating menstrual cycle for women, and improving sperm parameters for men.
Come find out what is the best suited naturopathic protocol for your journey at WIN. Visit with Dr. Helen Kim to discuss your naturopathic fertility plan.
References:
- Gaskins AJ, Mumford SL, Zhang C, et al. Effect of daily fiber intake on reproductive function: the BioCycle Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;90(4):1061-1069. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27990 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2744625/)
- Chiu YH, Karmon AE, Gaskins AJ, et al. Serum omega-3 fatty acids and treatment outcomes among women undergoing assisted reproduction. Hum Reprod. 2018;33(1):156-165. doi:10.1093/humrep/dex335 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29136189/)
- Gaskins AJ, Afeiche MC, Wright DL, et al. Dietary folate and reproductive success among women undergoing assisted reproduction. Obstet Gynecol. 2014;124(4):801-809. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000000477 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172634/)
- Lerchbaum E, Rabe T. Vitamin D and female fertility. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2014;26(3):145-150. doi:10.1097/GCO.0000000000000065 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24717915/)