Low Carb and Infertility

Infertility is a growing problem in the U.S.  At least one doctor is treating infertility by putting both the father and the mother on a very low carb diet (less than 20 grams of carbs per day; VLCD).  He claims now to have a 90% success rate in getting couples to achieve a pregnancy.

The basic problem is insulin elevation in the woman.  When insulin levels are high, the ability to get pregnant is sometimes compromised.  As mentioned often in this blog, the VLCD helps to reduce insulin levels, and these reduced insulin levels lead to greater fertility.  Listen to this interview with Dr. Michael Fox of the Jacksonville Center for Reproductive Medicine, as he talks about how the VLCD helps increase fertility.  He discusses why a high carb diet is bad, as well as other beneficial side benefits to both the mother and father, including less nausea, less weight gain during pregnancy, lowered blood pressure, and better lipid profiles.

I continue to be amazed at the problems elevated blood sugar and insulin levels create, and the very simple solutions for many of these problems (lowering blood sugars) by following a low carb diet.