Infertility in regards to both men and women can be an extremely complex issue involving various aspects of human reproduction. One feature that may not get the attention it deserves is the individual's diet. What we eat as we all know has a direct effect on every aspect of human physiology and that includes the human reproductive system.

Dietary Fat

Science appears to strongly suggest the importance of healthy dietary fats in relation to fertility in both men and women. For example infertile women who consumed omega-3 fatty acids had improved oestrous cycles ovary morphology and mammary gland development. In men a high intake of dangerous trans fatty acids was directly linked to a lower total sperm count and lower sperm quality. However males who consumed higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids experienced enhanced sperm count sperm motility and sperm morphology indicating positive outcomes from omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on male fertility. (3)

Vitamin D

A widely recognized vitamin that is often deficient in the American diet vitamin D is also linked to fertility issues in men and women. Vitamin D was found to improve follicular development and luteinization and increase ovarian reserve in women.  This vitamin has also been shown to improve sperm quality specifically sperm motility an important component of male fertility.

Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress has been deemed a causal factor in both male and female infertility. For women specifically oxidative stress has been found to prevent follicular maturation oocyte development and embryonic development and may potentiate polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis two conditions leading to high rates of infertility. Vascular function is compromised when oxidative stress is high leading to erectile dysfunction in men. Additionally oxidative stress directly impacts sperm quality. A Cochrane review of antioxidant supplementation in male partners of infertile couples resulted in significant increases in pregnancy rates implicating oxidative stress in male infertility. Excessive oxidative stress appears to undermine the integrity of both gender's fertility by damaging vascular function as well as oocyte and semen stability.

Chronic Infections

Another aspect of infertility that may often go unnoticed is chronic viral and bacterial infections. These would include most notably infectious agents that are genital in orientation such as herpes simplex HPV chlamydia gonorrhea and hepatitis. These infections appear to be a major cause of infertility in both men and women and may require aggressive clinical investigation in order to uncover this possible cause. In addition various chronic bacterial and parasitic infections including mycoplasma borrelia and trichomonas can be causative agents in infertility.

Obesity

Finally obesity is seen as a significant and highly relevant risk factor for the infertility epidemic in America. Male obesity reduces semen quality sperm proteomes promotes erectile dysfunction hormone abnormalities and changes scrotal temperatures all factors of male infertility. Further studies also point to obesity as major contributor to female infertility. Obesity is directly linked to anovulation or menstrual irregularities promotes polycystic ovarian syndrome poorer oocyte and embryo quality and implantation issues in females.

Despite the fact that infertility is a complex issue often requiring elaborate and sophisticated solutions there are many dietary and nutritional courses of action that can be taken which may help to increase the chances of successful fertilization and pregnancy.