Foods to fight infertility

Packing your diet with plant foods may help you beat endometriosis and infertility, says dietitian Lisa Simon

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Just before my 30th birthday, when I was studying to become a dietitian, I suddenly experienced excruciating pain low down in my abdomen. I struggled to even stand up straight, let alone walk. It lasted for a few days, and then I was able to resume some sort of normal activity.

My doctor put it down to IBS, but when it happened again a few weeks later, I sought private help, and I was told it was likely endometriosis. I ended up having a laparoscopy, during which endometrial tissue was removed. But it grew back a few years later and I had a repeat procedure.

My husband and I had no problems conceiving our first child when I was 27. But after two years of trying for another baby several years later, we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility, although endometriosis may have played a part.

We decided to go the IVF route, mainly due to our ages, and I searched for any information that would help to optimize our chances of a successful outcome. One line kept jumping out at me: a plant-based diet can help to optimize fertility.

Although I was skeptical at first, after reading through many studies showing the likely negative effects of animal products on fertility, and the fertility-optimizing effects of plant foods, I chose to eliminate meat, fish and eggs from my diet. Dairy remained as our first round of IVF was successful, but when my breastfed baby was diagnosed with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) at 6 weeks, I made the final leap and eliminated dairy completely.

Within three months of going fully plant-based, I saw my menstrual cycle return after being absent for years and my cystic acne disappear. In addition, I have rarely experienced any endometriosis pain over the past four years.