How does Vitamin D affect your fertility?
With up to 50% of the Australian population having insufficient levels of Vitamin D, its super important for ladies & gents to get this one checked and sorted in general and especially for fertility!
In this post we tell you why
What Vitamin D does in general
It helps put calcium into your bones to keep them nice and strong!
Regulates your moods with Vit D deficiency associated with depression.
Vit D helps regulate the immune system. Having a happy, healthy immune system affects everything from egg quality to risks in pregnancy to likelihood of birthing an actual tiny human.
Vitamin D regulates your immune system which helps your fertility
Our immune system is there to help protect us from a whole range of bugs out there and it helps keep things in check.
Vitamin D helps regulate your immune system. This makes sense as you'd be getting the least Vit D in winter and that's when you get the most colds!
Vit D regulates your immune system by regulating your T cells. T-cells are the part of your immune system that helps ward off infections. Its also the part that goes into overdrive in autoimmune conditions.
When your immune system is in overdrive, it can raise your risk of miscarriage or early pregnancy loss.
My doctor wasn’t concerned, so why should I be?
In this 2018 study of over 1000 women, researchers found those with sufficient Vitamin D levels (above 75nmol/L) were associated with an increased likelihood of pregnancy and live birth.
Interestingly, those in the study who corrected their Vit D levels BEFORE conception vs whilst pregnant were associated with less pregnancy loss.
This study from Curtin Uni in WA found that vitamin D levels affected IVF success rates. Those with Vit D deficiency were "less likely to develop mature eggs and would produce poor quality embryos". This makes sense too, as we shared last week, low Vit D levels affect your AMH levels.
The 2019 Cochrane review of 22 trials of over 3000 women found "supplementation with vitamin D alone during pregnancy probably reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and the risk of having a baby with low birthweight compared to placebo or no intervention"
If having sufficient Vit D levels is associated with better quality eggs, embryo's, increased likelihood of falling pregnant and giving birth AND associated with less risk factors in pregnancy - I'd say its really important to have really good levels!!
What to do next?
Get tested. Some people need a little Vitamin D, some people need a lot.
Either see your GP for an easy blood test or get it done privately with no appointments and results emailed to you in a couple of days.
ORGANISE A RETEST in a couple of months to make sure what youre doing is working. This is BEYOND important.
Make sure your levels are well above 75nmol/L.
The reference ranges on your blood test are for everyone (70 year old men too!) and arent specific for optimal fertility and pregnancy.The above research showed levels above 75nmol/L were what was associated with increased likelihood of pregnancy and live birth so go with that! Or ideally above 100nmol/L rather than 50nmol/L thats on your test.
Get some sunshine! There's apps that track if youve got enough sun exposure based on your geographical location and skin type. If youre worried, balance that info with the Cancer Council's recommendations. In Melbourne in winter however youre not likely to get enough Vit D with our sun.
Eat tuna, salmon, cheese, egg yolks or ghee for some Vit D!
Supplement. Sunshine and diet changes are great to help maintain levels but to really improve your Vit D levels, its likely you'll need to supplement. Again test your levels and retest them to ensure you do improve them
Like some integrative focused Chinese Medicine love?
Get in touch or book an appointment online below