Live Life Healthy

The authors of a 2021 review of research on the possible link between diet and female fertility concluded that, while their recommendations focused on women, “diet and nutritional patterns are undoubtedly significant for both male and female fertility”.

The researchers gave a detailed overview of the effects of individual nutrients and the foods that contain them. They also emphasised the importance of involving a clinical dietician in the care of couples planning a pregnancy. Broadly speaking, their summary recommended foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole-grain pasta and whole-grain bread (for carbohydrates); sources of healthy fat such as oily fish; and legumes, eggs and lean meat for protein. They also pointed out the important role of certain nutrients that may sometimes be overlooked: these include iodine, which helps the proper development of the fetus and the expectant mother’s thyroid function.

For alcohol, the advice is clear and consistent across the research. The CDC states: “there is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant.” This goes for all types of alcohol, including all wines and beer. The advice is to avoid it altogether.

If you have any concerns or questions about your diet and how it might affect your fertility, the best step is to consult your healthcare provider. And while certain foods do appear to play a positive role in fertility, it’s important not to overstate their power. Infertility is complex, as are its cause. Worrying over one’s diet can cause unnecessary stress as well as feelings of guilt and shame. Those struggling to conceive can rest assured that the problem is unlikely to be rooted in one specific thing they did or did not eat.

Wilkinson says that people with fertility issues are often searching for a single fertility-promoting food – but it is better to aim for an overall healthy eating pattern. “In the fertility chat rooms, there’s a lot of talk about pineapple being some kind of magic fertility food for if you’re trying to fall pregnant. However, there is no single food or supplement that works like that.”

* All content within this article is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of health care professionals.

Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis or actions taken by a user based on the content of this site. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you’re in any way concerned about your health or the health of your child.

—

Join one million Future fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram.

If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called “The Essential List” – a handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife, Travel and Reel delivered to your inbox every Friday.