How Food Affects Egg Quality in IVF? Impact of Diet on Fertility

Quality Care Global
Nutrition and Dietology

6 min read

how food affects egg quality ivf

If you're undergoing IVF, you're probably already doing everything possible to make it work—monitoring your cycle, following your doctor’s advice, managing stress, and staying hopeful. But did you know that your diet can have a big impact too?

Your diet has a direct impact on your reproductive health, including the quality of your eggs. Eating the right foods can help improve egg quality, balance your hormones, and increase your chances of a successful IVF. On the other hand, a poor diet can make it more difficult for your body to produce healthy eggs.

So, how exactly does food affect egg quality in IVF? And what should you eat (or avoid) to give yourself the best chance of success? Let’s take a closer look!

What is IVF and why is egg quality important?

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a highly effective fertility treatment for couples having difficulty getting pregnant. The process includes collecting eggs from the ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory, and then implanting the healthiest embryo(s) into the uterus.

Let QCG guide you to the best IVF treatment abroad, with leading hospitals and experienced specialists.

But the success of IVF largely depends on egg quality. Even with the best medical treatment, poor-quality eggs may:

  • Fail to fertilize

  • Develop into weak embryos

  • Have chromosomal abnormalities, leading to miscarriage

Several factors can influence egg quality, such as age, lifestyle habits, hormone levels, and diet. As women get older, egg quality tends to decrease, especially after the age of 35. However, the encouraging part is that making positive changes to your diet, lifestyle, and taking supplements can still make a significant difference, even for those dealing with fertility issues or advancing age.

The connection between diet and egg quality

So, does diet affect IVF? Absolutely! While age and genetics are important factors in egg quality, what you eat can make a big difference in how healthy your eggs are. Your body needs the right vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to help your eggs stay healthy. Without these, eggs can face damage from things like oxidative stress, inflammation, and poor development, which can lower your chances of success with IVF.

Eating a balanced diet that’s full of essential nutrients can help:

  • Support egg development

  • Reduce damage from oxidative stress

  • Balance hormones, which is important for ovulation

  • Improve blood flow to your ovaries

  • Create a healthier environment for your embryo to implant

But can diet improve a woman’s egg quality? Absolutely. Although women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, their quality isn’t fixed. By making dietary and lifestyle changes, egg quality can improve within 90 days.

How does diet affect egg quality?

So, how exactly does nutrition impact egg quality? One key issue is oxidative stress. This happens when there are too many harmful molecules (called free radicals) and not enough protective ones (called antioxidants) in your body. Free radicals can damage eggs by messing with their DNA, making them less likely to survive or develop properly. A diet full of antioxidants can help fight this damage and keep your eggs healthier.

Chronic inflammation is another problem that can harm egg quality. It’s often caused by processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats. Inflammation disrupts hormone balance and damages reproductive cells, making it harder for the ovaries to produce healthy eggs. A healthy diet can reduce inflammation and create a better environment for egg growth.

Hormonal balance is also important for egg development and ovulation. Hormones like estrogen and insulin regulate egg health. When these hormones are out of balance, it can affect egg quality. For example, unstable insulin levels can make it harder to conceive. Keeping hormones balanced is key to preparing your body for a successful IVF cycle.

What does the research say?

Several studies have explored the link between diet and fertility, particularly in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). While findings vary, there is growing evidence that diet influences pregnancy outcomes, egg quality, and live birth rates.

Research suggests that women who adhere to a Mediterranean diet have increased chances of conceiving or having a baby via IVF. This diet is rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, fish, and lean proteins while avoiding processed foods and too much sugar. One study of 590 women undergoing IVF showed that those who followed this diet had more fertilized eggs and healthier embryos, which improves the chances of conception.

Other diets which have shown promising results are:

  • ProFertility Diet: Includes whole grains, healthy fats (like avocado and olive oil), lean proteins, and antioxidant-rich foods like berries and leafy greens. It also helped improve pregnancy and live birth rates.

  • Iranian Traditional Medicine Diet: Focuses on “warm” foods like nuts, dates, saffron, and whole grains, while limiting processed foods. This diet had the biggest impact on pregnancy rates.

  • Dutch National Diet: Encourages eating lots of vegetables, fruits, fish, dairy, and whole grains, while cutting back on processed foods and sugars. This diet increased the chances of pregnancy.

The Mediterranean diet was especially linked to a higher chance of having a baby, but there wasn’t a clear link between diet and getting pregnant in the first place.

The researchers concluded that while diet seems to play a role in fertility, more research is needed to understand exactly how different diets affect IVF success.

Which nutrients can help improve egg quality?

Several nutrients have been linked to improved egg quality and fertility in IVF. Here are the most important ones:

1. Antioxidants

Antioxidants help protect your eggs from oxidative stress, which can cause DNA damage and reduce egg viability. They neutralize harmful free radicals that can harm egg cells. By reducing oxidative stress, antioxidants help maintain the health and quality of your eggs.

Best sources of antioxidants include:

  • Berries (blueberries, strawberries)

  • Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons)

  • Nuts (almonds, walnuts)

  • Green tea

  • Dark chocolate (in moderation)

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that reduce inflammation in the body, which is key to improving egg health. These healthy fats also support the health of egg cell membranes, making them more flexible and better able to interact with sperm during fertilization.

Best sources of omega-3 fatty acids include:

  • Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel)

  • Flaxseeds

  • Walnuts

  • Chia seeds

3. Folate and B Vitamins

Folate (B9) is essential for healthy DNA production and supports the development of the embryo. It also plays a role in preventing birth defects in early pregnancy. Other B vitamins, like B6 and B12, are important for regulating ovulation and supporting hormone production, which is necessary for healthy egg development.

Best sources of folate and B vitamins include:

  • Spinach

  • Lentils

  • Avocados

  • Eggs

  • Dairy products (milk, cheese)

4. Iron and Zinc

Iron is necessary for oxygen transport, ensuring your ovaries get the nutrients they need for proper egg maturation. Zinc supports hormone regulation and is involved in the process of egg production. Together, these minerals help maintain healthy ovarian function and improve egg quality.

Best sources of iron and zinc include:

  • Red meat

  • Tofu

  • Pumpkin seeds

  • Shellfish

  • Spinach

  • Lentils (for plant-based iron)

5. Protein

Protein is vital for hormone production and cell growth. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone regulate egg development, and protein helps provide the necessary building blocks to produce and balance these hormones. Additionally, protein supports the growth of healthy eggs.

Best sources of protein include:

  • Chicken

  • Fish

  • Eggs

  • Legumes (beans, lentils)

  • Quinoa (a plant-based protein with all essential amino acids)

6. Other nutrients

A few more nutrients are important for supporting egg health and fertility. These include:

  • Vitamin D helps regulate hormone production, which is key for reproductive health.

  • Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supports energy in egg cells, helping them function better.

  • Selenium is an antioxidant that helps repair any chromosomal damage in eggs, keeping them healthy.

You can also consider taking supplements as they can help improve egg quality. However, be sure to discuss with your doctor to avoid any risks.

What foods are good for egg quality for IVF?

Looking for the best diet for egg quality in IVF? Focus on whole, nutrient-rich foods like:

  • Leafy greens (spinach, kale)

  • Fatty fish (salmon, sardines)

  • Whole grains (quinoa, oats)

  • Legumes (lentils, beans)

  • Berries (blueberries, raspberries)

  • Nuts and seeds (almonds, chia seeds)

Foods to avoid during IVF for optimal egg quality

It’s just as important to avoid certain foods as it is to eat the right ones when looking to improve egg quality. Here are some foods you should steer clear of:

  • Processed foods contain preservatives and chemicals that can damage egg quality.

  • Sugary drinks and refined sugars can spike insulin levels, which can disrupt hormone balance and fertility.

  • Trans fats raise inflammation in your body, which can negatively affect ovarian function.

  • Too much caffeine can disturb your hormonal balance, which is crucial for healthy eggs.

  • Alcohol can lower both egg quality and fertility, making it harder to conceive.

  • Soy contains compounds that may interfere with estrogen balance, which is important for egg health.

Boost your IVF success with proper nutrition. QCG connects you to specialists who help you optimize your diet for fertility.

Wrapping up: Ready to maximize IVF success through diet?

In conclusion, while IVF success depends on many factors, taking control of your diet is one step you can take to help improve egg quality and boost your chances of success. A nutrient-rich diet can support healthy hormones, reduce inflammation, and protect eggs from damage. Although diet alone can't guarantee IVF success, making these changes can significantly help prepare your body for a successful IVF journey.

Keep in mind, every step you take towards supporting your fertility counts, and your efforts to nourish your body can make a meaningful difference in your IVF outcomes.