Dr. Nashat Latib

Inflammation and fertility

FERTILITY

Inflammation and Fertility

By Dr. Nashat Latib • Mar 28, 2023

What is inflammation and how can functional medicine help reduce it?

You may have a vague awareness that inflammation is bad for your body, but how exactly does it impact your body from a fertility perspective? We’re here to give you insight on this topic based on our combined decades of experience as Medical Doctors and Institute of Functional Medicine certified experts.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is a natural response of the body to injury or infection, but when it becomes chronic, it can have negative impacts on your health and certainly on your fertility.

Several factors can contribute to chronic inflammation, including poor diet, stress, and smoking, as well as in certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders.
Some of the most common signs of chronic inflammation are:

  • Body discomfort
  • Sleep disorders
  • Weight gain or unexplained weight loss
  • Skin rashes
  • Digestive issues
  • Mood disorders, like depression and anxiety

We help our clients address their nutrient deficiencies, and our formula has over an 80% success rate in those who are ready and commit to our process.

Chronic Inflammation and Fertility

Chronic inflammation can damage the reproductive organs making it difficult for eggs to mature and be released. It can also cause the ovaries to become swollen and painful, making it difficult for the eggs to be fertilized.

Chronic inflammation can also cause the fallopian tubes to become blocked, preventing the eggs from reaching the uterus and affecting the production of hormones necessary for ovulation and pregnancy. For example, inflammation can disrupt the balance of estrogen and progesterone, which are needed for a healthy menstrual cycle.

Inflammation can also negatively affect the sperm. Sperm cells are sensitive to inflammation, and exposure to chronic inflammation can lead to a decrease in the number and quality of sperm. This can make it difficult for a couple to conceive.

The Functional Medicine Approach to Reducing Inflammation

To improve fertility, it is important to address and reduce the sources of inflammation. You can do this by eating a healthy diet, managing stress, and avoiding smoking. All of that can reduce inflammation and improve fertility.

Click here to read more tips from us about how to reduce inflammation.

Lastly, your overall lifestyle can impact your body’s level of inflammation. This includes how you manage stress and how much sleep you get. We highly recommend 7-9 hours of sleep and incorporating mindfulness practices like meditation into your daily routine.

It’s also important to work with a healthcare provider to manage any underlying medical conditions contributing to chronic inflammation. Some of these conditions that can impact inflammation include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and bowel diseases.

Final Thoughts

With the right approach, you can reduce inflammation and improve fertility. The key is identifying the root cause of your inflammation. When we work with clients directly, that’s what we strive to do – uncover what the root cause is.

From there, we work with our clients through the 4R Fertility Framework to get results. Our process is 80% effective in those we have found to be a good fit and are ready to commit to our process.

Click HERE to view our on-demand masterclass and discover our proprietary 4R Fertility Formula

For further reading...

  1. Does Inflammation Contribute to Infertility?” by R. H. Shmerling published in the Harvard Health Publishing.
  2. Alesi S, Villani A, Mantzioris E, Takele WW, Cowan S, Moran LJ, Mousa A. Anti-Inflammatory Diets in Fertility: An Evidence Review. Nutrients. 2022 Sep 21;14(19):3914. doi: 10.3390/nu14193914. PMID: 36235567; PMCID: PMC9570802.
  3. Łakoma, K., Kukharuk, O., & Śliż, D. (2023). The Influence of Metabolic Factors and Diet on Fertility. Nutrients, 15(5), 1180. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu15051180 
  4. Turner-McGrievy, Gabrielle & Davidson, Charis & Billings, Deborah. (2014). Dietary intake, eating behaviors, and quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are trying to conceive. Human fertility (Cambridge, England). 18. 1-6. 10.3109/14647273.2014.922704. 
  5. Szostak-Węgierek D. Sposob zywienia a plodnosc [Nutrition and fertility]. Med Wieku Rozwoj. 2011 Oct-Dec;15(4):431-6. Polish. PMID: 22516697.
  6. Chiu YH, Chavarro JE, Souter I. Diet and female fertility: doctor, what should I eat? Fertil Steril. 2018 Sep;110(4):560-569. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.05.027. PMID: 30196938.
  7. Sińska B, Kucharska A, Dmoch-Gajzlerska E. Znaczenie diety w optymalizacji płodności kobiety [The diet in improving fertility in women]. Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2014 Jun;36(216):400-2. Polish. PMID: 25095641.
  8. Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, Willett WC. Diet and lifestyle in the prevention of ovulatory disorder infertility. Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Nov;110(5):1050-8. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000287293.25465.e1. PMID: 17978119.