Fertility and Nutrition: The Importance Of a Healthy Diet for Reproduction

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Our Team

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2/28/2025

BRIEFING: Nutrition is of crucial importance for both our physical and mental wellbeing. In this monthly food section, we discuss everything related to food and food supplements that we consider of interest (don’t worry—there will be no recipes!), from recommended and not recommended foods

Should you and your partner change your diet when planning on conceiving? 

“Should we change our diet, now that we are trying to conceive?” is, likely, one of the most frequently asked questions heard in fertility centers. And while there is no one right answer to this question, here are a few possible answers under several different conditions. 

Nutrition is, of course, beyond important for our existence—it is essential! But there is relatively little evidence that nutrition makes much of a difference in conceiving spontaneously or conceiving through infertility treatments. The conversation on this subject, nevertheless, never ends. Here is a brief summary of how the CHR usually answers the question. 

We emphasize the importance of balanced diets, with some recent literature pointing toward the Mediterranean diet as potentially beneficial for couple trying to conceive.1  While a very recent systematic review found very little evidence for a benefit of such a diet on female fertility, the study suggested that it may improve sperm (i.e., male fertility).2  Other fertility experts recommend to their patient almost the opposite—a high-fat and meat and low-carbohydrate diet. 

The truth is that good studies on this topic do not exist. We suspect that whatever effects nutrition has on fertility may be indirect. What we mean by this is the following: As often noted in the VOICE, fertility providers do not like it when their patients demonstrate so-called inflammatory markers. In other words, we do not like inflammation, whatever the cause, whether it means autoimmunity, outright inflammation, or even simple allergies. (It is also important to remember that endometriosis and adenomyosis are inflammatory conditions). 

Whenever we detect evidence of inflammation in laboratory findings, or whenever a patient arrives at the CHR with a fitting medical history, we do recommend an anti-inflammatory diet, meaning abstinence from all gluten, dairy, and sugar. We have seen quite astonishing improvements in levels of inflammation in women with endometriosis who have pursued such a diet. But without laboratory findings, and/or appropriate symptoms, we do not recommend diet changes beyond a balanced diet. There is one exception: if patients experience repeatedly gastrointestinal or other symptoms after specific food, we recommend patients abstain from these foods while attempting pregnancy. The reason is that such symptoms (like bloating, excessive flatus, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and brain fog) often suggest that the relevant food item may be inflammatory to the patient. 


References 

https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2022/a-mediterranean-diet-not-only-boosts-health--but-also-improves-fertility/

Muffone et al., Nut Rev 2023;81(7):775-789 

My journey started in 2018 when I went to another fertility doctor. I went through 3 IUI's which were not successful. Then went through 1 IVF cycle after PGS testing which failed in a miscarriage July of 2018. The doctor then went on saying I should consider donor egg as I was not going to be able to conceive with my own eggs. In looking for a second opinion that November my best friend and I stumbled into a video where Dr. Gliecher was speaking to help women past 35-40 get pregnant with their own eggs. I made a consultation appointment for Dec 5th 218 and Dr G stated I was going to get pregnant with my own egg. He ran tests and modified my treatment to my need. I had a retrieval on 2/3/2019 and transferred on 2/7/2019. I was pronounced pregnant on 2/19/2019 and my CHR miracle was born October of 2019. Today she is 5yrs old and is the most beautiful smart healthy loving kiddo I have been blessed by being her mother.

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I have already had multiple rounds of IVF that were not successful. I knew about the office from a famous book about fertility. The consultation with Dr.Barad was the best consultation I have had so far. He is very compassionate, talked to us as human beings and actually tried to get to know us and what we do. Not only that he also explained everything well to us and is very knowledgeable. He was so patient with my many questions and he also addressed my concern about one of my hormones that no other doctor paid attention to, even when I pointed it out to them. He explained the importance of fixing it and how to fix it. I am hopeful as he didn’t rush us into doing another round like other doctors do and wanted to fix my problem first even though I feel like I am on a time crunch. I appreciate his time as he spent almost two hours with us on the consultation and I don’t want to have crazy expectations but I am hopeful. Let’s hope the rest goes well and God is on our side. Thank you Dr.Barad

S.S. Google

My husband and I are beyond grateful to the incredible team at the Center of Human Reproduction for helping us achieve the pregnancy of our adorable baby boy. What truly sets this team apart is their personalized approach to each patient and couple. They took the time to understand our unique circumstances, tailoring a plan that was not only effective but also made us feel supported every step of the way. Infinite thanks to Dr. Barad and the team for their expertise and compassionate care, our dream of becoming parents has come true. We wholeheartedly recommend the Center of Human Reproduction to anyone on their fertility journey. Thank you for making our dream a reality!

G.R. Google

CHR was the answer to our prayers! They actually made our dream come true! Thanks to all the doctors, nurses, biologists and administrative support for everything!!

C.R. Google

I’ve gone to many fertility clinics over the course of 5 years. CHR is without a doubt the best in the business. Their expertise, Dr Barad’s compassion, organization, nurses, billing, phlebotomists are all top notch. I had 0 eggs fertilize elsewhere and 100% fertilization at CHR. If that’s not proof of their protocol and labs quality, then I don’t know what is. You are in great hands with CHR.

L.D. Google

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