Some fertility clinics have started to prescribe omega-3 fatty acids to men because research indicates that it could increase low levels of fertility.

Omega 3 essential fats, found in fish oil, are thought to make sperm more resistant to possible damage resulting from the chilling and freezing processes involved in assisted reproduction techniques. Researchers, from the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, say that men with abnormal semen tend to consume less omega-3 fatty acids than fertile men.

One fatty acid component in particular, alpha linolenic acid, has been shown to have the most significant effect on sperm quality. A clinical trial to test the treatment is about to start and if the results indicate the beneficial effects of omega 3 on sperm men attending fertility clinics could routinely be supplied with omega 3 supplements in the future. I would always use fish oil supplements (like Mega EPA) for fertility for both men and women but good to see that the fertility clinics are now recommending them.

This month’s case study is ‘Sarah’ – who came to the Clinic because of irregular periods

Sarah’s Story:

“Having always suffered with irregular periods of around 50-60 days I just got used to it and sometimes it actually felt like a blessing because I didn’t have a period every month! However, it wasn’t until I was starting to try for a family that it became a concern. Then for no apparent reason my period stopped altogether and I had no cycle for three months which was quite worrying. I went to my GP who ran some routine blood tests which all came back normal suggesting no hormone imbalance. He suggested I take the Pill to regulate my cycle.

“Even after seeing my GP I still knew it was not normal to be without a period. Aside from wanting a baby, I had read that there was an increased risk of the bone thinning disease, osteoporosis due to the lack of the female hormone oestrogen. But because I was 28, this didn’t seem to be an issue for my doctor. I knew I didn’t want to take the Pill because this would simply mask the problem and not address exactly why my periods were irregular.

“I decided to be a bit more proactive and typed ‘irregular periods’ into the internet and it generated lots of information and links. The first link that stood out to me was the Dr Marilyn Glenville Clinic.’ I downloaded an ‘e-book’ on Irregular Periods which gave me all the information I needed about why periods become irregular and what the medical and natural approach is. After reading the information it made so much sense, but I decided I needed some more support rather than trying to follow it on my own.

“I phoned the Dr Marilyn Glenville Clinic to book my first appointment in London. This felt like such a positive step for me because I was actually taking control and trying to find answers to why I had an irregular cycle and what I could do about it.

“Before my initial appointment I was asked to complete a very detailed questionnaire which formed the basis of the consultation. It went into my medical history, symptoms and very importantly what I ate and drank on a daily basis. Actually writing this all down was quite interesting as I didn’t realise just how much chocolate and cola I consumed! The receptionist at the Dr Marilyn Glenville Clinic did tell me it was best to be honest when filling in the dietary section because the advice given to me would be more relevant.

“My first appointment was one hour and the nutritionist took a very detailed history from me. She had also studied my questionnaire beforehand which made me feel very confident that someone was actually taking the time for me. All too often when I have seen my doctor, they don’t seem to have the time to really take a detailed history. Firstly she asked what my main aim was from the consultation and I explained that it was to ultimately conceive. She explained that we would work on the irregular cycle first because this needed to be sorted before starting to try for a baby.

“The nutritionist explained that suffering from irregular periods is a fairly clear indication that the menstrual cycle had become imbalanced usually due to lifestyle factors including stress and poor diet. I knew stress was a major factor for me because of my career and the long days I work which is very demanding. I confessed that some days I worked through lunch just living on cola and chocolate to get me through the day. She said that stress can completely shut the female reproductive system down because in a ‘fight or flight’ situation where the body is under extreme stress, it would not be in a position to reproduce! This all made so much sense.

“I explained that my routine blood tests from my doctor had come back normal, but apparently this is not always reliable. She explained to me that the natural approach is designed to encourage the body to re-establish regular ovulation and to get hormones back in balance. One of the first things I had to work on was reducing and then ultimately avoiding sugar and cola. I thought this would be impossible but once the nutritionist had explained how sugar and caffeine can affect hormones and create such imbalance it really motivated me to change my diet. She explained that the B vitamins, the mineral magnesium and essential fats from oily fish and nuts and seeds are all essential for hormone balance and to think of these nutrients as ‘fuel’. She explained it so well – ‘if you don’t have enough fuel your car will break down and similarly if your body doesn’t get enough essential nutrients it will also ‘break down’ and stop functioning’. All of my hormones are dependent on a good supply of vitamins and minerals and essential fats. She also explained that some herbs like agnus castus and black cohosh can help to regulate the cycle.

“The nutritionist gave me a plan of action which involved me changing my diet, taking specific vitamin and minerals and a special herbal tincture when contained several different herbs, all with the intention of bringing my period back. She explained that using a herbal formula rather than a single herb is often more valuable because it has a more nourishing effect on the menstrual cycle.

“I was asked to come back after eight weeks so the nutritionist could review and monitor me. She explained that it is particularly important to be monitored when taking herbal preparations. It felt really reassuring that I was coming back after a set time rather than just being left to my own devices. During the eight weeks I was asked to fill in my daily diet diaries which helped me to keep focused.

“In this time I also started to think more about how I could reduce my stress. I knew that some things like my job I could not alter and would always be a ‘constant’, but I decided to have acupuncture and make time for yoga which would hopefully allow me and my body to deal more efficiently with the stress.

“After the first 2 months I was already feeling like a new woman! I had had a period which was fantastic and aside from that I just felt so much better and had more energy and rather than coming home after work and collapsing in front of the TV, I came home and started exercising a couple of nights a week.

“After 6 months I had had a 32 day cycle which was totally unheard of – the first ‘normal’ cycle in years. Even though my partner and I had decided to put trying for a baby on hold, it just felt so reassuring that my body was functioning normally and in balance to prepare us ultimately for having a baby. All I can say is how powerful I have found nutrition to be and only wish I had sought advice sooner, but you know what it’s like – we all put things to the back of our minds until we are forced to deal with them. This has taught me to always listen to my body and take action rather than letting the weeks and months and years pass by.”

My Comments:

“This is just one of many cases where people ignore what their body is telling them. The only reason Sarah sought advice for her irregular cycle was because she was thinking about trying to start a family.

“Ideally she should have acknowledged her cycle as not being normal and done something about it sooner. Unfortunately though we see this at the clinic all too often because of people leading increasingly busy lives and putting off until tomorrow. Thankfully Sarah is young enough to take the time to follow a good 3-6 month preconception programme and putting her fertility plans on hold is a good thing to make sure that we have really got her body back in to balance.

“We can see from Sarah’s story how powerful nutrition can be in encouraging your body to re-balance. Given the right tools, your body has the remarkable ability to balance itself. It is just a question of being ‘in tune’ with your body as we are all so unique and listen to what it is telling you.”

Q: Should I be drinking tea and coffee when I’m trying to get pregnant?

A: My recommendation would be to avoid black tea and coffee when trying to get pregnant. The concern is that caffeine can delay conception and this is especially important if you over 35 and trying to get pregnant. Some research has shown that drinking as little as one of coffee a day can delay conception by up to a year or more.

Whereas other research has shown that consuming less than 300 mgs a day, or what you’d get from drinking two or three cups of coffee, doesn’t appear to affect a woman’s fertility. (That’s according to a 2003 report from the Centre for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction at the National Institutes of Health.) On the other hand, at least one large study recently found that women who consumed 300 mg of caffeine or more a day took longer to conceive than those who got less or none.

To be on the safe side, and especially if you are finding it hard to conceive, I would suggest you eliminate it altogether. Caffeine has no nutritional value and can even cause your bones to lose some calcium, an important nutrient for a healthy pregnancy. There’s also evidence that drinking 3 or more cups of tea or coffee a day can increase your risk of miscarriage.

Because caffeine acts like a drug, you wouldn’t be advised to stop suddenly and go ‘cold turkey’ because you could experience quite dramatic withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea, tiredness, muscle cramps and depression.

To minimise these effects, try cutting down gradually, substituting some of your usual drinks for healthier alternatives. It’s much better to cut down slowly over a few weeks. Begin by substituting decaffeinated coffee for half of your total intake per day, and then gradually change over to all decaffeinated. Then, slowly substitute other drinks, such as herbal teas and grain coffees. You should, ideally, eventually eliminate decaffeinated coffee as well because coffee contains other stimulants (theobromine and theophylline) which are not removed when the coffee is decaffeinated.

As a substitute for coffee try Caro, Bambu or Yannoh which are grain coffees and contain healthy natural ingredients like rye, barley, chicory and acorns. Good alternatives to tea include herb teas and fruit teas. And don’t forget that caffeine isn’t just in the usual suspects (coffee, tea, and cola) it’s also in chocolate, other soft drinks (e.g. colas) and energy drinks. It’s also in a variety of over-the-counter drugs, including some headache, cold, and allergy remedies, so it is easy to have too much caffeine in your system without even realising it.