Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health
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Dietary patterns and infertility problems

Approved: 2022

Collaborators:

  • Dr Jessica Grieger
  • AProf Allison Hodge
  • A/Prof Lisa Moran
  • Dr Jennie Louise
  • Dr Nahal Habibi
  • Ms Kelly Hall
  • Prof Gita Mishra
  • Dr Shalem Leemaqz
  • Dr Gabriela Mena Ribadeneira

Synopsis

Infertility affects around 1 in 6 couples, and is associated with significant emotional, social and health burden. There are a number of studies demonstrating certain foods or nutrients may associate with infertility, but there is still no conclusive guidance on the best types of foods to support fertility. Moreover, assessment of dietary patterns, as a holistic approach, has been rarely assessed in relation to fertility and increasing age. 

Increasing age is a strong risk factor for infertility problems, but so is high BMI, and poor diet. In both younger and older women, the percent contribution of these risk factors to infertility problems has not been assessed. Furthermore, it is not known whether the contribution of BMI, diet, or lifestyle variables to infertility problems changes over the course of a women’s life, independent of the adverse effects of increasing age.

The proposed study will investigate dietary patterns and the association with reproductive health parameters. It will also assess the independent and joint contribution of diet and lifestyle variables, and risk for infertility problems, and determine whether the contribution of diet and lifestyle variables to fertility problems change over time.