Healthy Diets Information

A couple’s recurrent activities and lifestyle have a very important influence on their ability to have children. Women who are obviously overweight or underweight may have difficulty becoming pregnant either naturally or by IVF (in vitro fertilization). They need proper diet and befitting level of exercise. Obesity results in a surge in the production of estrogen; this hormonal imbalance will intercede with ovulation, which is the basis of successful conception.

A person is defined as being obese if thirty per cent of her body weight is made up of fat tissue. Ovulatory disorders are the leading cause of female infertility, resulting in the disruption of hormones, menstrual cycles, and conception. Approximately 15% of such disorders are linked to weight disorders; mainly being overweight and obese.

Altering the diet and abstaining food that is high in saturated or Trans-fat or high in sugar is encouraged. Trans fat (also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat) which is normally found in commercially prepared baked goods, fried foods, and processed snack can upset normal ovulation by interfering with a cell receptor that regulates inflammation, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity.

Enriching the diet with whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean proteins is the best for couples. Drink plenty of water; take multivitamins or mineral supplements to improve your health. Food supplements can be used to enhance a healthy diet but should not be used as a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet. A prenatal multivitamin with iron, calcium, antioxidant nutrients (A, C, E, selenium and zinc), probiotics, fish oils and others may be used to enhance fertility and support a healthy pregnancy.

The British Fertility Society and Dr. Abha Maheshwari from the University of Aberdeen suggested that a person with a BMI over 35 should not go through IVF treatment, and women with a BMI over 30 should put off treatment until they have lost weight. Dr. Arthur Leader, co-founder of the Ottawa Fertility Centre, commented that based on his case study, extremely overweight women are 3 times more prone to have infertility problems. These women are 3 times more inclined to have an IVF technique failure, and have a greater risk of pregnancy-related complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and cesarean delivery. Overweight women take more time to conceive using IVF procedure, and at the same time, suffer more miscarriages. A study conducted by Jim Wang from University of Adelaide has established a positive relationship between Body Mass Index and the uncertainty of spontaneous abortion in women who became pregnant after IVF treatment. Obesity is associated with an increased possibility of early pregnancy loss occurring before 6 weeks of pregnancy.

According to most studies, women who have childhood obesity are facing a greater risk of amenorrhea, a condition in which menstrual cycles are absent. Women who are overweight are less likely to respond to fertility drugs, because excess weight interferes with the proper absorption of different types of drugs used in infertility treatment due to insulin excess and insulin resistance. Obese ladies have poorer response to ovarian stimulation as the hyperinsulinaemia may result in altered follicular maturation that affects the eggs being harvested for IVF treatment.

Studies also showed that a higher proportion of women in the overweight and obese groups had a miscarriage and needed higher doses of drugs to stimulate their ovaries during their IVF treatment. Professor Adam Balen, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals confirmed that obesity has a substantial effect on fertility. Balen also recognized that the risk of complications such as miscarriage and maternal or fetal death are more readily associated with obesity. Children born to overweight women through IVF are more likely to have genetic defects. A healthy lifestyle is important to enhance your chances of a successful IVF treatment, so observe a balance diet and exercise regularly. Having a balanced diet will help to ensure that your body is healthy enough to conceive and nourish a developing fetus. Thus, a healthy lifestyle affects the success rate of IVF treatment.