The Role of Nutrition in Supporting Reproductive Health

ByBela Angress

Nutrition and other lifestyle choices can impact your reproductive health. MyReceptiva tests for silent endometriosis, a condition that affects fertility. Here is more information about the role of nutrition in supporting reproductive health: 

Lifestyle Factors and Fertility

Overall health impacts a patient’s ability to maintain a healthy pregnancy. If a couple is experiencing unexplained fertility, they can meet with a fertility specialist. During a consultation, the fertility specialist performs health analyses to see if there are any lifestyle factors that may be impacting fertility. 

A health analysis includes asking questions about diet, physical activity, and drug use. The analysis will review the couple’s health histories. Smoking, excessive drinking, and drugs such as recreational marijuana have a negative impact on fertility, likely resulting in pregnancy loss. Being overweight or underweight may impact a patient’s fertility. Making diet changes helps the patient meet a healthy body mass index. 

The fertility specialist will go over lifestyle changes to help improve fertility. This includes exercising, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting drugs or smoking. Reducing caffeine intake can have a beneficial impact on fertility. The specialist may recommend a balanced diet to improve nutrition. 

Silent Endometriosis and Nutrition

Endometriosis occurs when tissue that looks like uterine lining tissue emerges outside of the uterus. This leads to inflammation and scarring of fallopian tubes and scarring. This impacts a patient’s ability to participate in natural conception or embryo implantation. Symptoms of endometriosis include unexplained infertility, irregular bleeding, pelvic and abdominal pain, and pain during sexual intercourse. Symptoms may include bladder pain during urination and gastrointestinal issues such as bloating and constipation. 

A women’s health specialist is able to perform a test for endometriosis in the office during a typical visit. During the test, the specialist takes a sample of the uterine lining. MyReceptiva tests a patient for the protein marker BCL6, which is present in uterine inflammation. High levels of BCL6 indicate a higher likelihood of endometriosis. The test detects both silent endometriosis, which is largely asymptomatic, and symptomatic cases. Knowing the results allows you to decide whether to receive a laparoscopy, which is a surgery that helps remove the additional tissue. Hormonal suppression treatments to reduce inflammation are available. 

Discuss endometriosis treatment and management options with your fertility specialist. Investing in good nutrition is able to help you manage symptoms of endometriosis, including infertility. Nutrition helps with success rates for assisted reproductive technology (ART). Assisted reproductive technology includes in vitro fertilization (IVF), where a fertilized embryo is implanted into the womb. Engaging in endometriosis treatments is able to increase success rates for IVF. To improve the chances of IVF success, implement lifestyle changes and treatments before starting a round.

Balanced Diet to Support Fertility

Participating in routine exercise and eating a nutritious diet helps improve hormone levels. A balanced diet includes nutrients your body needs for healthy conception. Improving personal nutrition helps both partners increase their fertility. Eating a balanced diet and participating in healthy lifestyle changes help men improve sperm health. 

A fertility specialist or nutritionist can review what foods to include or reduce for a beneficial diet. This includes: 

  • Eating whole grains: Increasing whole grain intake can lead to higher successful implantation and live birth rates with ART. Consuming more grains is able to help produce a thicker endometrium. This helps improve endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation.
  • Increasing omega-3 fatty acids: Eating more omega-3 fatty acids has been reported to help with embryo health. It has been connected with higher ART results. Fish is a beneficial source of omega-3.
  • Reducing sugar: Refined sugars elevate blood glucose. This can negatively impact ART success rates. Reduce sugar intake and drinks with artificial sweeteners.

Eat protein-rich food such as poultry and reduce red meat. Mediterranean diets, which include fish, olive oil, and poultry, have been connected with higher success rates for ART. Increase vegetables and fruits in your diet. Take vitamins and supplements as needed. Vitamin D has been reported to factor into endometrial implantation and healthy pregnancies. Maintaining folic acid and zinc levels helps with sexual health and healthy fetal development.

Learn More About Silent Endometriosis and Nutrition

Our lab sends the endometriosis test results back to your physician. Patients are able to get results between seven to ten business days. We offer a document about how to discuss the test with your physician. This document provides more information about endometriosis and the test, including a checklist of symptoms. We provide resources to help you find endometriosis specialists who can review your personal nutrition to help you manage endometriosis. To learn more about silent endometriosis and the MyReceptiva test, we invite you to use our online calendar to schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation with us.