With over 25% of couples planning a baby having trouble conceiving, and about 1 in 7 now classed as infertile, it is not surprising that more and more couples are turning to fertility treatments.  Contra to traditional belief, infertility is roughly equal between men and women, with 32% of cases attributed to men and 32% to women and 10.8% a combination of both partners. 23% of cases are unexplained (HFEA, 2007).

In many cases,  fertility is influenced by diet and lifestyle factors and studies suggest that many infertile couples would benefit  from diet and lifestyle advice to improve their fertility. One study at The Manchester Metropolitan suggests that nutritional and lifestyle changes, supported by selected supplementation, are more effective at producing successful pregnancies in infertile couples than insemination and ovarian stimulation techniques (IVF). Some estimates suggest that a whopping 81-83% of infertile couples successfully conceived and had a healthy pregnancy after making beneficial changes to their diet and lifestyle.

In men, deficiencies in a number of nutrients can result in lower sperm counts and compromise the quality of the sperm produced, making the long and perilous journey to the egg virtually impossible. In women, many nutrients have a critical role in ovulation, the process of egg maturation, fertilisation and survival of the embryo.

At least 19 trace elements are known to influence human fertility, embyogenesis and pregnancy. Other nutrients are equally important and many others are likely to be important but not yet adequately researched.  Fertility can be enormously improved for both women and men by making careful nutritional and lifestyle choices, alongside a carefully selected supplement regime to support additional requirements for fertility, conception and pregnancy.

References:

Zenes M (2000) Smoking and Reproduction: gene damage to human gametes and embryos Human Reproduction Update 6: 122-131

Jarup L, Berglund M, Elinder CG, Nordberg G. Vahter M (1998). Health effects of cadmium exposure – a review of the literature and risk estimate Scand Journal Environmental Health 24(3):240

Jarup L. Harzards of heavy metal contamination. British Medical Bulletin 68: 167-82

HFEA (2007) Infertilty 2007/8: The HFEA guide. London: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. www.hfea.gov.uk

Trace Elements in Health. Lappe (Rose ed) 1983 p 231

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