4 Key Moments on the Road to Pregnancy That Call for Dietary Changes

In the previous article we shared how a healthy diet can reduce the risk of premature birth. Today we will go back a little further and look at the four key moments in the process of conceiving at which future parents need to change their diet.

According to Olive Wellness Institute, nutrition can affect egg quality, sperm quality, the reproductive hormones that influence the timing of ovulation, as well as the implantation capacity of the uterus and the growth and development of the fetus.

1. When trying to conceive

Couples who start trying to get pregnant should know that the food they eat today can influence the health of their future child tomorrow. Research shows that nutrition before conception can affect genetic programming, the child's future weight, the risk of chronic diseases and cognitive abilities. For example, a study by Dr. Petri suggests that the intake of lipids by the mother and father before conception may affect the genetic signature, which in turn will be reflected in the child's future development and metabolism. The Mediterranean diet and the intake of monounsaturated fats during pregnancy are linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease for the baby later in life.

2. In the presence of specific nutritional conditions accompanying the risk of infertility

These are couples who have, or have recently been diagnosed with, conditions that increase the risk of infertility. These include polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, insulin resistance, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid disease and others. Couples with dietary disorders should be advised that optimally following a healthy eating regimen can help improve outcomes when they wish to become pregnant. For example, studies show that endometriosis can be influenced by an anti-inflammatory type of diet. Here we told you about the numerous studies finding that extra virgin olive oil is beneficial in immune-inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, and may also play a protective role in endometriosis.

3. In assisted reproductive treatments

Other couples who need dietary intervention are those undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (ART). ART includes a number of procedures, such as inducing ovulation for women who do not ovulate regularly, and artificial insemination for men, in which the sperm is transferred directly into the woman's uterus. Before moving on to in vitro fertilization, solving the problems through diet and lifestyle should be considered. For example, about 30% of fertility problems arise from the health of the male sperm. Studies show that extra virgin olive oil can help improve sperm quality, which may improve ART outcomes. Optimal ovarian function, that is, the absence of inflammatory processes around the ovaries, is also key to a successful ART procedure. Studies show that extra virgin olive oil helps minimize inflammation.

Attention should also be paid to the woman's uterus. Approximately half of all embryo implantations result in an unsuccessful pregnancy. Although this may be caused by the quality of the embryo, the receptivity of the uterus is also an important factor. An embryo needs a well-formed uterine lining of at least 7 millimeters in order to implant. Studies show that vitamin E supplements can help increase the uterine lining, although the mechanism for this remains unknown. Extra virgin olive oil is a rich dietary source of vitamin E, and although no studies have been conducted, it is plausible to conclude that its vitamin E content may be one of the factors contributing to its benefit in women who are trying to get pregnant. Aspirin is often prescribed to reduce inflammation, and a number of studies show that extra virgin olive oil also has significant anti-inflammatory effects.

4. In vitro fertilization

Couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF literally means “fertilization in a test tube”. The embryo is then transferred into the woman's uterus. Studies show that following the Mediterranean diet, which includes using mainly extra virgin olive oil as the healthy fat, can improve the results of the in vitro procedure. For example, a study by Dr. Vujkovic found that women who consume more foods from the Mediterranean diet have a higher chance of becoming pregnant through IVF than those who also eat healthily but with fewer healthy oils and legumes. These results were confirmed by Dr. Karayiannis, who demonstrated that following the Mediterranean diet increases the likelihood of pregnancy through in vitro fertilization by 2.7 times.

It has also been found that a diet high in extra virgin olive oil and fish, and lower in meat, improves embryo development and reduces the risk of miscarriage.

In summary, extra virgin olive oil can be beneficial at every stage on the road to pregnancy, whether couples are trying to conceive naturally, have nutritional disorders affecting their fertility, or are undergoing assisted reproductive therapy or in vitro fertilization.