The effect of nutritional status and lifestyle on embryo quality in women undergoing infertility treatment

This study aimed to investigate the effect of nutritional status, anthropometric measurements, healthy lifestyle behaviours and physical activity levels of women treated for infertility on embryo quality and conceptions. The study was conducted with 75 female individuals at reproductive age of 18-49, who referred to Özel Ankara Tüp Bebek Merkezi (Private In Vitro Fertilization Center) in December-February 2017 and were diagnosed with infertility. The average age of the women was 33.5±5.45. It was determined that the highest number of oocytes retrieved and of embryos that developed during the study had a positive effect on pregnancy outcomes (p=0.007, p=0.032). The number of oocytes retrieved, number of embryos that developed, transfer and pregnancy status and embryo quality on the days of transfer did not differ significantly in terms of smoking and alcohol consumption (p>0.05). Any statistical significance was not found between embryo qualities and age distribution (p>0.05). There wasn't any significant difference between body weights, BMIs, waist circumferences, waist/height rates and mid-upper arm circumferences of individuals and the number of oocytes retrieved, number of embryos that developed, transfer and pregnancy status and embryo qualities on the days of transfer (p>0.05). There wasn't any significant difference in terms of the number of oocytes retrieved and number of embryos developed as self-development, health responsibility and stress management, which are sub-groups of healthy lifestyle behaviours scale (p>0.05). It was concluded that exercise points of those with a successful transfer were higher (p=0.032). Stress management and healthy lifestyle score were found to have a positive impact too. There wasn't any significant difference between hemoglobin, HCT and TSH values of individuals and the embryo quality (p>0.05). It was concluded that the number of oocytes retrieved and number of embryos that developed increased, as the level of physical activity increased. However, correlations were regarded as small and statistically insignificant. A significant difference was not identified between the physical activity levels of individuals and the transfer status and pregnancy outcomes (p>0.05). It was concluded that as the consumption of meat and bread individuals increased, the embryo quality also increased (p=0.035, p=0.044). A negative relationship was found between dairy group, vegetable group and fruit group consumption of individuals and the embryo quality (p>0.05). There wasn't any significant difference the macro-nutritional elements and the number of oocytes retrieved and number of embryos that developed. Vegetable protein intake positively affected the transfer (p=0.004) and pregnancy status (p>0.05). Animal protein intake had a negative impact on pregnancy status (p>0.05). Fat intake positively affected the transfer (p=0.024) and pregnancy status (p>0.05). It was found out that intake of micro-nutritional elements such as thiamine, riboflavin, B6 vitamin, magnesium, phosphor and iron was higher in individuals with a successful transfer than those whose transfer is unsuccessful (p<0.05). Caffeine consumption was found to negatively affect the number of oocytes retrieved, number of embryos, transfer status and embryo quality (p> 0.05). As a conclision, applying healthy nutritional habits to infertile patients increases the quality of life and increases the chances of pregnancy.