Boosting your gut health may be the missing link between you and improved fertility. Around 1 in 9 Australian couples have experienced fertility problems which can be caused by a whole range of issues. (1) Signs of impaired gut health includes gas, bloating, and constipation which may have a simpler fix than you think. (2)
What Does Gut Health Actually Mean?
Gut health refers to the gut microbiome which is simply the bacteria inside the digestive system. The bacteria have been found to play important roles in overall health and disease risk including Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. (2) The microbiome effects many body functions such as:
The gut microbiome balance is also the key to minimising symptoms such as gas, bloating, and constipation. (2)
How Does it Affect Your Fertility?
If your gut microbiome is imbalanced, oestrogen levels can be impacted. Beta-glucuronidase is the enzyme present in the gut microbiome that helps break down oestrogen in the body. When the microbiome is imbalanced this process is affected which increases the likelihood of higher oestrogen levels and oestrogen dominance. (5)
This may be why you experience painful or irregular periods, sleep issues, or struggle to lose weight. Oestrogen dominance can also contribute to the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis which greatly impact fertility. (5) (6)
If the gut microbiome is imbalanced, it can contain more harmful bacteria than good bacteria and cause inflammation. Typically, inflammation is the body’s response to infection or injury. However, if it becomes chronic it can disrupt normal processes of the body and can lead to many conditions as well as fertility problems. (6) It has been shown to impact fertility by decreasing egg quality and embryo development.(7)Inflammation in the gut can also affect nutrient absorption and increase the likelihood of nutrient deficiency. (6)
The good news is I’m here to help!
The microbiome is developed before birth and is therefore influenced by maternal diet.
These 3 tips can keep your gut healthy:
Avoid Highly Processed Foods: these foods can promote inflammation and increase the bad bacteria in the gut.
Enjoy Probiotic Foods: these foods include yoghurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut. They help to increase growth of microbes in the gut, restore balance, and prevent inflammation.
Increase Variety of Fruit and Vegetable intake; microbes prefer different foods including the diversity of nutrients in fruits and vegetables. (6) (8)
By improving your gut bacteria balance you can decrease inflammation and work to improve your fertility. There are many things to worry about when trying to conceive, so let’s not make gut health one of them. Contact me for all your gut health concerns today!
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