As the saying goes "trust your gut" certainly exists for a reason. According to Psychology Today, our gut has millions of nerve cells, almost like a "mind of their own." In fact, you've probably experienced the feeling of nervousness in your stomach before asking your boss for time off or before a big presentation. That uneasy feeling in your stomach is not just imaginary butterflies. It's your gut, which is highly attuned to your body and sends signals to it. From illnesses like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis to inflammatory bowel disease and your ability to conceive, the microbiota present in your gut can lead to a plethora of issues. Thus, it is imperative to take good care of gut health. To understand the link between gut health and fertility, we reached out to Dr Plabani Sarkar, Consultant- Reproductive medicine at Milann Fertility who decoded everything for our readers.
What is Gut health
Although there is no specific definition of gut health, it refers to your gastrointestinal system, which includes your stomach, intestines, and colon. And the gut system is home to trillions of bacteria, which we call the microbiota or microbiome. Your gut bacteria help with metabolism, hormone balance, immune system regulation, nutrient extraction from diet, and mood enhancement.
Although the majority of bacteria in our bodies are good for health, these microorganisms can disturb the balance of the gut microbiome, resulting in dysbiosis - an imbalance in bacterial composition. Furthermore, gut microbiota imbalances can have an impact on our reproductive system.
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According to Dr Sarkar, “When it comes to reproductive health, the focus is often placed on factors, like changing lifestyle, hormonal balance, and genetics. However, several studies have lately come to light indicating that there may be an unexpected player in the domain of fertility: our gut. While the gut has long been recognized as an important component of general health, recent scientific discoveries have thrown light on its role in reproduction.”
How gut health is connected to fertility
If you're wondering how these two systems interact, there are several methods that function together. However, when it comes to fertility, your gut microbiota has a big impact. In fact, numerous new studies have revealed that poor gut health can induce an estrogen imbalance, which can lead to reproductive difficulties such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and testicular dysfunction. Though it may be difficult to believe, gut health and fertility do have an intriguing link. So, let's look at some of the studies that confirm the connection between the two.
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According to the research published in NCBI, in women with recurrent pregnancy loss, a leaky gut may arise, allowing immunological stimuli to enter the circulation and potentially provoke an endometrial innate immune response, contributing to miscarriage pathophysiology. Furthermore, another NCBI report found that gut health, specifically the gut microbiota, is important for immune function. When our immune systems aren't working properly owing to poor gut health, we may experience persistent inflammation. This, in turn, can lead to recurrent pregnancy loss.
As per the research mentioned above it is evident that gut health and fertility are invariably linked — a healthy, happy gut means that you are more likely to be in the mood and have higher energy levels. Thus, in order to be fertile, you must maintain good gut health. In general, a proper diet helps to create a healthy baby. Taking care of oneself is equally crucial as taking care of your growing family.