Nutrition for IVF

There are many factors that can affect fertility, and at the Zita West Clinic, we believe nutrition is important.

Whenever we work with someone trying to conceive, we consider every factor that could increase their chances of success. If you are having IVF at the Zita West Clinic, our dedicated fertility nutritionists will carry out a free and extensive nutritional and lifestyle assessment, letting you see which areas you could consider changing to bring that dream of a baby one step closer.

Everyone’s nutritional needs are different. We’ll ensure yours, and your potential baby’s, are met, with a comprehensive IVF nutrition plan designed around you.

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Nutrition for IVF

In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have replaced our usual face-to-face nutritional consultations with live video consultations.

Many of the couples we see have had previous IVF failures at other clinics, so it is really important that we look at every aspect that can influence the outcome before they begin a cycle with us. Other than underlying medical causes which we will investigate and develop a treatment plan for we believe that nutrition and lifestyle can have a significant impact on the success of IVF. That is why we offer a free nutrition and lifestyle assessment for anyone having IVF with us.

Many women know a lot about diet but far less about nutrition. When they first come to see us, they have often done extensive research on the internet and bought large amounts of dietary supplements as a result and sometimes gone on diets. However, everyone’s nutritional needs are different and diets very often do not help as they deplete the body of important nutrients, so it is important that we provide an informed assessment of your individual needs.

What do you look at in a nutrition for IVF consultation?

The most common questions we get asked are “what can I do to improve my eggs” and “what can I do to improve my partners sperm” when people first start looking into how to improve their chances of conceiving.

In our nutrition assessment we look at various aspects of your diet and health, including:

Your blood sugar balance
Testing for nutritional deficiencies
Assessing lifestyle issues for anything that may be impacting your health
What nutrient rich food to choose

As well as diet, we look at other aspects of your general health that might be having an impact on IVF success, including such conditions as PCOS, thyroid function, immune factors, and previous miscarriages and, in older women, low egg reserves.

What to expect from an IVF nutritionist session?

Before your consultation, we’ll ask you to fill in a quick questionnaire and a three-day food diary. This will give us information on all aspects of your health and lifestyle that we believe can influence your fertility levels.

Our IVF nutritional consultations can then help with the following key areas:

Nutrients to protect the egg and sperm

Our micro-nutrient tests can identify any nutrient deficiencies, helping us develop a nutritional plan to give your body more of what it needs. We can also identify any food that can combat free radicals – unstable atoms in your body that can cause chromosomal damage, increasing the risk of miscarriage.

Weight loss or weight gain

Being overweight or underweight can interrupt your body’s menstrual cycle, or even stop ovulation altogether. In men, being overweight can cause a reduced sperm count. We’ll help plan your diet accordingly, helping you achieve the optimum weight for fertilisation.

Inflammation

We’ll look at any dietary or lifestyle factors that may cause abnormal inflammation, something that can lead to fertility issues such as endometriosis, miscarriage and pre-eclampsia.

Immune issues

If your immune system is weak, or even if it is too efficient, it may affect fertility. We are seeing more and more evidence that an abnormal immune response can affect implantation and increase the risk of multiple miscarriages.

Underlying medical factors

If you have any medical issues such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), an under or overactive thyroid, anaemia or celiac disease, our IVF nutritionists will compile a plan that ensures you’re getting the best nutrients to give you the best chance of conceiving.

Stress

Excessively stressful lifestyles can affect the reproductive system, and an increase in stress hormones can interfere with ovulation in women and sperm production in men. By replenishing the nutrients that stress depletes, we can improve the way your body responds to stress and limit the impact it has on your fertility.

What to eat during IVF

The most important thing to consider with your diet during IVF is consistency. You shouldn’t start any diets during IVF, or change the sort of food you’re eating, such as by going gluten free or cutting out meat, unless you’ve already been doing it.

The food you eat should be healthy and varied. Consider adding the following foods to your meal plan before you undertake IVF to offer your body the help it needs.

Fresh fruit and vegetables
Whole grains, such as quinoa and whole grain pasta
Avocados, extra-virgin olive oil, nuts, and seeds
Lean proteins such as chicken and fish
Reduce consumption of red meat and highly processed food.

Book a consultation New Patients - 0808 196 4060 Current Patients - 020 7224 0017

The best nutrients for fertility and pregnancy

Your body needs different nutrition for IVF. While the food and drink you require will differ on an individual basis, some things are essentials no matter who you are.

Our fertility nutritionists will look at your current nutritional intake and advise you on what you need more, and less of. This will include the following:

Folic acid

Folic acid helps develop a baby’s neural tube, which becomes part of the spine and brain. A lack of this vitamin can prevent proper growth, leading to potential problems with your baby’s development. Adding this to your diet before conception can significantly improve the chances of a healthy birth.

You’ll find folic acid in vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and bok choy, while lentils are also full of it.

Zinc

Zinc is great for regulating hormones during your menstrual cycle, and it also helps eggs mature. In men, zinc can boost the amount, quality and performance of sperm.

Zinc is abundant in beef, lamb, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, asparagus, lentils and quinoa.

Vitamin C

This antioxidant is a wonderful addition to a male’s diet. It can improve his sperm quality and increase his ejaculate volume, giving you a better chance of success.

You’ll find Vitamin C in papaya, peppers, broccoli, strawberries, pineapple, kale, cauliflower and cabbage.

Omega 3

Omega 3 will help balance your hormones, increase cervical mucus and improve blood flow to your uterus, all creating a healthy environment for your child to develop in.

You can find lots of Omega 3 in things like walnuts, salmon, sardines, chia seeds and mackerel.

Beta-carotene

Remember being told carrots would let you see in the dark? Well, they won’t, but the thing that led to the rumour is called Beta-carotene, and it gives fruit and vegetables their bright colours. It can also boost fertility levels in both men and women (both at day and night).

Find it in sweet potato, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables, squash and red peppers.

Vitamin E

This antioxidant has been proven to help increase your fertility, while in men it can enhance sperm health. A great combination to add to your diet.

Find Vitamin E in sunflower seeds, spinach, asparagus, almonds, broccoli, kale and avocado.

Selenium

Selenium is a helpful antioxidant that can help prevent chromosome breakage, allowing eggs to form more easily. It’s also an essential ingredient for sperm formation.

You’ll find selenium in Brazil nuts, salmon, asparagus, turkey, chicken and eggs.

L-Arginine

Another one great for men, this amino acid can help improve blood flow to the penis, allowing a man to maintain an erection.

You can find it in turkey, pork, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, chickpeas and lentils.

L-Carnitine

Another amino acid which boosts testosterone levels, this can help with sperm mobility and health.

It’s found in things like beef, pork, cod, chicken, asparagus and avocado.

Fertility and nutrition – what should you avoid?

There are some things your body will benefit from avoiding during IVF, and cutting them out of your diet may well help improve your chances.

Toxins in food, such as those found in refined vegetable and sunflower oil, and any high sugar food, are best off cutting out. You should also avoid any highly processed food – fresh is best when it comes to IVF.

It’s also highly recommended to stop drinking and smoking during your IVF cycles. You should cut out alcohol three months before you attempt to get pregnant, giving your body time to get any toxins out of your system. Drinking even two drinks a week for women, and four for men, can significantly reduce the chance of IVF being a success.

Smoking can also be highly detrimental to fertility rates. You should quit at least three months before attempting to get pregnant, giving our eggs and male sperm the time to mature. Our nutritionists can help you on the quitting journey.

Why is nutrition so important for IVF?

We find that the changes are sustainable when they fit in with the rest of your lifestyle, budget, time and tastes – take a look at this video featuring Zita West discussing why nutrition is so important for IVF.

“Nutrition and Lifestyle changes do not need to be daunting – small changes can have a significant impact.” Zita West

Who we help

At Zita West Clinic, we understand that each individual person needs an individual approach to starting a family. From the moment you walk through our door, you will receive personalised and comprehensive guidance and advice to help you through your fertility journey: the future of your family starts here.

I’m new to IVF I’m returning to IVF after a lack of success I’m in a same sex couple I’m a single woman I’m over 40