Working as nutrition professionals, it is common to come across clients that are struggling with infertility. Research indicates that nutrition in particular plays a key role in fertility outcomes – and this is where we come in. It is vital to take a person centred approach to our care, to listen to our clients and acknowledge their lived experience of infertility. Being conscious as a dietitian or nutritionist of the emotional toll infertility can take will ensure clients feel seen, therefore fostering a connection with us to assist in optimising their fertility. 

Lifestyle Factors & Infertility

Many may immediately look for a physical cause for infertility, but there are a range of factors beyond the physical that may play a role in one’s inability to conceive. One of these is our lifestyle, which encompasses elements such as:

• Nutrition 
• Physical activity
• Stress management
• Environmental exposures
• Caffeine and alcohol consumption
• Maintaining a healthy weight

Supporting our clients to make meaningful change in these areas to improve their fertility outcomes is not as simple as telling them how or what to change, but identifying their barriers to why – taking a holistic approach to understand the whole person is crucial to conception.

There is no one diet that tackles infertility, however it is important to have a diet rich in antioxidants, omega 3’s, wholegrains and unsaturated fats to optimise fertility outcomes. But what does this actually look like in practice?

The Mediterranean Diet For Fertility

After knowing all we know about the mediterranean diet for female health and managing inflammation it shouldn’t come as a big surprise to see that the Mediterranean diet is popping up once again, this time in the space of being beneficial for improving both male (1) and female fertility (2).

This is an easier less restrictive diet to focus on with clients especially if you focus on all of the things they can ADD IN!! Let’s take a closer look …

Are you curious about learning more? 

Complete our Compeat Academy ‘Fuelling Fertility’ Course! The course will equip you with knowledge around all things fertility nutrition, strategies to support male and female reproductive health as well as how to support your clients through this journey.

Read to dive in?

References

1. Karayiannis D, Kontogianni MD, Mendorou C, Douka L, Mastrominas M, Yiannakouris N. Association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and semen quality parameters in male partners of couples attempting fertility. Hum Reprod. 2017 Jan;32(1):215-222. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew288. Epub 2016 Nov 14. PMID: 27994040. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27994040/
2. Karayiannis D, Kontogianni MD, Mendorou C, Mastrominas M, Yiannakouris N. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and IVF success rate among non-obese women attempting fertility. Hum Reprod. 2018 Mar 1;33(3):494-502. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dey003. PMID: 29390148.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29390148/