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Cited by 71Reproductive Health and TechnologiesAssisted Reproductive Technology and Twin PregnancyOvarian function and disorders

Many women undergoing fertility treatment make poor lifestyle choices that may affect treatment outcome

Gormack, A. A., Peek, J. C., Derraik, J. G. B., Gluckman, P. D., Young, N. L., Cutfield, W. S.·2015·Human Reproduction
DOI 10.1093/humrep/dev094
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Abstract

STUDY QUESTION: What are the lifestyle choices and dietary aspects of women about to undergo fertility treatment in New Zealand? SUMMARY ANSWER: A considerable proportion of women about to undergo fertility treatment make poor lifestyle choices, including the consumption of alcohol and caffeine. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Women undergoing fertility treatment are highly motivated to achieve pregnancy, but there are relatively few published data on their lifestyle, lifestyle changes or dietary aspects. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This was a cross-sectional study of 250 women aged 20-43 years, taking place between March 2010 and August 2011. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Women about to undergo IVF or ICSI treatment in two large fertility clinics in Auckland and Hamilton, New Zealand. Lifestyle and dietary intake questionnaires were individually administered once to each participant 35 days (SD = 22) prior to fertility treatment initiation. Outcome measures included incidence of smoking, consumption of alcohol and caffeinated beverages, BMI, detailed intake of dietary supplements and fertility treatment success. Consumption of certain nutrient supplements was compared with the general female New Zealand population. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: There were high rates of alcohol (50.8%) and caffeine (86.8%) consumption. Most women (82.8%) reported at least one lifestyle change in preparation for fertility treatment, but less than half of women who consumed alcohol regularly reduced their intake and 60% did not change consumption of caffeinated beverages. Similarly, the majority of women did not change their exercise levels (64.4%) or BMI (83.6%) ahead of fertility treatment. Coffee intake appeared unrelated to treatment outcome, but women who consumed caffeinated herbal tea (36.4% of the study population consumed green tea) had lower odds of becoming pregnant (odds ratio, OR 0.52; P = 0.041 versus those not consuming caffeinated herbal tea). Women who abstained from drinking or reduced alcohol intake had twice the odds of becoming pregnant than those who maintained their drinking habits prior to fertility treatment (OR 2.27; P = 0.049). While 93.2% of women took a folic acid supplement, 16.8% had an inadequate intake compared with the current New Zealand prenatal recommendation of 800 mcg/day. Women who held a university degree or higher qualification had twice the odds of becoming pregnant as women with lower levels of education (OR 2.08; P = 0.017), though this finding appeared to be unrelated to lifestyle or dietary habits. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The study involved self-reported behaviours that might have been misrepresented by respondents. In addition, our questionnaires covered the period following the first clinical assessment but ∼5 weeks prior to fertility treatment initiation, so that we cannot ascertain whether dietary intakes and lifestyle choices persisted over the course of treatment itself. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Many women about to undergo fertility treatment make poor lifestyle choices that may negatively affect their chances of becoming pregnant. These findings may be more widely applicable to other women attempting to become pregnant. Specific advice for women regarding healthy lifestyle choices while undergoing fertility treatment is warranted. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: A.A.G. received financial support from Abbott Nutrition Research & Development Asia-Pacific Center; J.C.P. is a shareholder of Fertility Associates; the other authors have no financial or non-financial conflicts of interest to disclose.

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  • Fertility clinics have seen increasing numbers of patients with unhealthy lifestyles and have increasingly recognised the importance of preconception lifestyle advice.

    “Over past years, fertility clinics have tended to see an increasing number of patients with an unhealthy lifestyle, and they have acknowledged more and more the importance of providing preconception lifestyle advice (Gormack 2015, Homan 2018).”

    From Preconception lifestyle advice for people with infertility (2021) · cites this paper as Gormack 2015

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. DorostghoalM,ErfaniMajdN,NooraeiP.Maternalcaffeineconsumptionhas irreversible effects on reproductive parameters and fertility in male offspring rats. Clin Exp Reprod Med 2012; 39 :144-152.
  2. ESHRE Task Force on Ethics and Law, Dondorp W, de Wert G, Pennings G, Shenfield F, Devroey P, Tarlatzis B, Barri P. Lifestyle-related factors and accesstomedicallyassistedreproduction. HumReprod 2010; 25 :578-583.
  3. HomanG,LittJ,NormanR.TheFASTstudy:Fertility ASsessmentandadvice Targeting lifestyle choices and behaviours: a pilot study. HumReprod 2012; 27 :2396-2404.
  4. Hull M, North K, TaylorH, FarrowA,FordW.Delayedconceptionandactive and passive smoking. Fertil Steril 2000; 74 :725-733.
  5. MukherjeeR,HollinsS,Abou-SalehM,TurkJ.Lowlevelalcoholconsumption and the fetus. BMJ 2005; 330 :375-376.
  6. NeggersY,GoldenbergR.Somethoughtsonbodymassindex,micronutrient intakes and pregnancy outcome. J Nutr 2003; 133 :1737S-1740S.
  7. WangJ,DaviesM,NormanR.Bodymassandprobabilityofpregnancyduring assisted reproduction treatment: retrospective study. BMJ 2000; 321 :1320-1321.

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Authors
Gormack, A. A., Peek, J. C., Derraik, J. G. B., Gluckman, P. D., Young, N. L., & Cutfield, W. S.
Affiliations
  • University of Auckland (NZ)
  • Fertility Associates (New Zealand) (NZ)
Corresponding author
Cutfield, W. S.
ORCID
Venue
Human Reproduction
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2015-04-29
Volume
30
Issue
7
Pages
1617-1624
ISSN
  • 0268-1161 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2350
DOI
10.1093/humrep/dev094
OpenAlex
W2136947882
Cited by
71
References
67
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 1
FWCI
11.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Human Reproduction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
Keywords
infertility treatment, lifestyle choices, alcohol consumption, caffeine consumption, dietary supplements, folic acid supplementation, green tea, herbal tea, smoking, body mass index, physical activity, in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, treatment outcomes, pregnancy success, educational attainment, New Zealand women, dietary intake
MeSH terms
Adult, Alcohol Drinking, Caffeine, Feeding Behavior, Female, Fertilization in Vitro, Humans, Life Style, New Zealand, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic, Young Adult

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