16d. Fertility - Female & Male Fertility

Question 1

Factors that can impact both female and male fertility

Answer 1

Intensive exercise
Stress
Age
Poor methylation

Question 2

Why is intensive exercise bad for fertility?

Answer 2

Raised cortisol production reduces progesterone
Excessive secretion of endorphins interferes with normal production of FSH/LH
Reduced sperm count

Question 3

Why is stress bad for fertility?

Answer 3

Cortisol/adrenaline/noradrenaline can inhibit release of GnRH - responsible for FSH/LH
Reduced cortisol production

Question 4

Why is ageing bad for fertility?

Answer 4

Oocyte numbers diminish with age
Sperm morphology/motility declines with age

Question 5

What fertility/birth abnormalities increase with age?

Answer 5

Chromosomal abnormalities
Poor embryonic development
Implantation failure
Miscarriage risk

Question 6

Why is poor methylation bad for fertility?

Answer 6

Reduced MTHFR activity = poor egg maturity/quality
Reduced fertility in men

Question 7

Which common MTHFR polymorphism results in reduced MTHFR activity?

Answer 7

C677T

Question 8

What adverse pregnancy outcomes are increased with polymorphisms?

Answer 8

Neural tube defects
Pre-eclampsia
Gestational hypertension

Question 9

Which nutrients are good for improving methylation?

Answer 9

B2
B6
B9
B12
Methionine

Question 10

Food sources of B2/6/9/12 and methionine

Answer 10

Dark leafy greens
Avocado
Legumes
Meat/poultry
Eggs
Wholegrains
Nuts
Seeds