Are you planning for conception? Or struggling to get pregnant? Functional medicine and IV therapy from our Toronto practice can help nourish your body with nutrients. In turn, this may contribute to alleviating nutrient deficits that impact female fertility outcomes.  

According to the World Health Organization, close to 80 million women are affected by infertility worldwide. “In fact, data show that a diet high in trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars can negatively affect fertility,” explains an Advances in Nutrition article. However, studies have shown that when healthy eating is practiced regularly, it may potentially boost your chances of getting pregnant. 

Whether you’re struggling to conceive naturally or with IVF/assisted reproductive technologies (ART), supplementing with optimal nutrients may help support reproductive health goals. Here, our IV Lounge describes which nutrients may affect fertility outcomes in women; the types of functional medicine and drip therapy treatments we offer; and how to get a custom-made IV drip from us. 

Key nutrients and their roles in female fertility

Poor nutrition can influence female infertility. An article from Frontiers in Endocrinology points out that protein, vitamin and mineral deficiencies have been linked to a “…reduction in reproductive performance since the altered energy balance is directly correlated to the reduced ovulatory maturation in women.” We list some optimal nutrients that have shown to impact fertility outcomes for natural pregnancies or females undergoing ART:

• • B12: Lacking B12 may unnecessarily boost homocysteine levels, which can cause infertility. Optimal amounts of vitamin B12 during preconception have demonstrated beneficial effects for natural and ART pregnancies. 

• • Folic acid: Folate is crucial for reproduction, especially for synthesizing DNA and amino acids. An increased amount in females undergoing IVF has been associated with surges in implantations and live birth rates. 
  • Iodine: Iodine optimizes thyroid functioning; lacking it can potentially cause hypothyroidism, which can disrupt ovulation.  
  • Omega-3 fatty acids: ‘Good’ fats can help foster fertility by supporting egg quality and embryo implantation. They may also contribute to preventing hormonal imbalances and mitigating inflammation affecting reproduction. 
  • Selenium: This nutritional deficiency has been linked to pregnancy complications, including miscarriages, low birth weight, and dysfunctions to the fetus’ immune and nervous systems. 
  • Vitamin D: Some studies have paired this shortcoming with female infertility, especially low ART outcomes. Journal reviews have implied potential positive connections between vitamin D and live birth rates using ART. 
  • Zinc: Being deficient in zinc is linked to low pregnancy rates; studies have shown that females “…with low serum concentrations of zinc and selenium were more likely to experience longer time intervals to pregnancy,” confirms a Frontiers in Nutrition article. 

Dietary and supplement changes can help with supporting pregnancy health goals. Next, we discuss how the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre can help with complementary treatments. 

Applying functional medicine and vitamin IV therapy 

Our clinic customizes health services, and some of these are administered in our IV Lounge, which is where patients can relax with a nutritional drip! For adjunct needs, we offer intravenous therapy and nutrient booster shots (i.e. vitamin D injections). There’s a chance we may discuss these things during your first consultation with us: 

• • Functional lab testing: If we suspect that poor nutrition or hormonal imbalances are occurring, we may recommend functional medicine testing, such as the DUTCH Complete or personalized nutritional assessment (Genova Diagnostics). These lab results are used to customize your treatment plan. 
  • Dietary modifications: The Western diet is linked to inflammation, and chronic inflammation can contribute to infertility. Transitioning to the Mediterranean Diet may be advised, as it’s been shown to help improve IVF outcomes in women. 
  • Supplementation: We can guide you on how to take oral supplementation; a tailored intravenous treatment can be prescribed, too, to sustain nutrient levels. IV therapy is suitable if you struggle with malabsorption, as this treatment allows your body to wholly absorb the doses of nutrients administered.  

Please know that you’re not alone in your health struggles! Our clinicians have a compassionate, patient-centered approach to wellness, and they have ample experience personalizing treatment plans for your needs. Next to assisting with fertility, we can also help manage autoimmune diseases, skin conditions (i.e. boosting collagen production), food sensitivities, and more. 

Recommended reading: 9 Functional IV Therapy Toronto Tips For Immunity Support

Book your IV Lounge consultation today

At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, we customize treatment plans by integrating various modalities. We offer Western and naturopathic medicine, hormone optimization programs, holistic nutrition, psychotherapy, and more. 

Our Toronto IV Lounge is for patients who want to support their nutrition for general concerns, such as augmenting energy levels, managing mineral deficiencies, boosting mental clarity, improving immune function, etc. The ingredients blended into a custom-made IV drip are dosed for individual health needs only. This is because we adhere to the functional medicine model, which concentrates on the biological needs of a single patient. Our IV Lounge offers a wide range of nutrients for intravenous infusion drips, such as ascorbic acid, several types of amino acids and essential minerals, glutathione, IV NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), among others. When IV drip therapies are combined with additional functional medicine therapies and healthy living, they may contribute to health improvements. 

Ready to meet our IV Lounge team? Here are some things to note first: 

a.) An initial consult is mandatory prior to your first IV drip session. During this initial session, we’ll discuss your chief health concerns and explore underlying issues and allergies. If IV nutrient therapy is compatible with your health status, we can prescribe IV nutrients to you. After this consultation, you can immediately get your vitamin drip in our Lounge or book it for another day. 

b.) Our vitamin IV therapy drips are designed as adjunct treatments only. They do not replace daily oral supplementation, exercise, and healthy eating. 

c.) Our IV drips are blended in house only, which means you only receive freshly-blended drips from us. We do not use preservatives in our treatments. 

If you want to discuss the role of nutrition for your fertility treatments, let’s chat! Learn more about our health services, such as IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre – book your initial visit by calling us now. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Agbalalah T, Robert FO, Amabebe E. Impact of vitamin B12 on the reproductive health of women with sickle cell disease: a narrative review. Reprod Fertil. 2023 Jul 1;4(3):e230015. doi: 10.1530/RAF-23-0015. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37399204; PMCID: PMC10388680.

Gaskins AJ, Chiu YH, Williams PL, Ford JB, Toth TL, Hauser R, Chavarro JE; EARTH Study Team. Association between serum folate and vitamin B-12 and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Oct;102(4):943-50. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.112185. Epub 2015 Sep 9. PMID: 26354529; PMCID: PMC4588741.

Kohil, A., Chouliaras, S., Alabduljabbar, S., Lakshmanan, A. P., Ahmed, S. H., Awwad, J., & Terranegra, A. (2022). Female infertility and diet, is there a role for a personalized nutritional approach in assisted reproductive technologies? A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 927972. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.927972

Kuehn B. Iodine Deficiency May Impair Fertility. JAMA. 2018;319(8):760. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.1291

Meng X, Zhang J, Wan Q, Huang J, Han T, Qu T, Yu LL. Influence of Vitamin D supplementation on reproductive outcomes of infertile patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2023 Feb 3;21(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s12958-023-01068-8. PMID: 36737817; PMCID: PMC9896710.

Mills, J. L., Buck Louis, G. M., Kannan, K., Weck, J., Wan, Y., Maisog, J., Giannakou, A., Wu, Q., & Sundaram, R. (2018). Delayed conception in women with low-urinary iodine concentrations: A population-based prospective cohort study. Human Reproduction, 33(3), 426-433. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dex379

Pieczyńska, J., & Grajeta, H. (2015). The role of selenium in human conception and pregnancy. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 29, 31-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2014.07.003

Pilz, S., Zittermann, A., Obeid, R., Hahn, A., Pludowski, P., Trummer, C., Lerchbaum, E., R., F., Karras, S. N., & März, W. (2018). The Role of Vitamin D in Fertility and during Pregnancy and Lactation: A Review of Clinical Data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10), 2241. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102241

Silvestris, E., Lovero, D., & Palmirotta, R. (2019). Nutrition and Female Fertility: An Interdependent Correlation. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10, 451315. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00346

Skoracka K, Ratajczak AE, Rychter AM, Dobrowolska A, Krela-Kaźmierczak I. Female Fertility and the Nutritional Approach: The Most Essential Aspects. Adv Nutr. 2021 Dec 1;12(6):2372-2386. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmab068. PMID: 34139003; PMCID: PMC8634384.

Trop-Steinberg, S., Gal, M., Azar, Y., Kilav-Levin, R., & Heifetz, E. M. (2024). Effect of omega-3 supplements or diets on fertility in women: A meta-analysis. Heliyon, 10(8), e29324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29324

University of South Australia. “A Mediterranean diet not only boosts health, but also improves fertility.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 December 2022. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/12/221213094801.htm>.