Gut and vaginal bacteria are usually not the first things that come to mind when thinking about conceiving, but does gut health affect female fertility? Continue reading to learn more from a doctor.
Many people are unaware that your gut health and fertility are linked since gut and vaginal bacteria are usually not the first things that come to mind when thinking about conceiving, but health professionals suggest that you include them on your to-do list. The presence or absence of helpful bacteria strains in the female digestive and reproductive systems has a far bigger impact on fertility than most of us realise.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Ritu Hinduja, Fertility Consultant at Nova IVF Fertility in Mumbai, talked about Lactobacillus bacteria and its role in vaginal health as well as shared, “The vaginal microbiome composition varies with age, although Lactobacillus species are the most common vaginal bacteria in healthy women of reproductive age. It increases the amount of oestrogen in the vagina. A high oestrogen concentration can result in thicker vaginal secretions and a more favourable vaginal pH level, both of which are important in generating a favourable sperm habitat.”
“In general, a relatively high proportion in seminal Lactobacillus is associated with better sperm quality, indicating that Lactobacillus species may have a probiotic role in the male genital tract “She went on to say. With enough probiotic dosage, all of the following can be maintained.”
Cautioning so both male and female infertility can be caused by a wide array of illnesses which can lead to inflammation, Dr Ritu Hinduja said, “This inflammation can be kept under control with a healthy level of Lactobacilli which can be supplemented with probiotics. When we use antibiotics for any type of sickness, the beneficial flora is eliminated.”
“There is also a test, As EMMA, which stands for Endometrial Microbiome Metagenomic Analysis, which can assess the makeup of microbial species in the uterus,” she said of the tests to find the balance of healthy bacteria in the Endometrium. It can assist detect the quantities of microorganism species and signal imbalances between “good” and “bad” bacteria from biopsied endometrial tissue.”
“A normal healthy endometrial microbiome should consist of more than 90% Lactobacillus species,” Dr. Ritu Hinduja noted. If an EMMA test reveals that non-lactobacillus species account for more than 10% of the uterine microbiome, some clinicians may recommend antibiotics followed by probiotics. The sort of treatment offered will be based on your unique results, such as which species are discovered and how much of the microbiome they consume. The main purpose is to boost the amount of lactobacillus bacteria in the uterus.”
As a result, make sure your diet contains plenty of probiotics. Before and throughout your reproductive treatments, incorporate probiotic-rich foods such as yoghurt, paneer, and buttermilk.
Can female fertility be affected by gut health? Health experts respond
