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As a mature student Louise returned to college to study Nutrition and Dietetics at DIT & Trinity, graduating in 2006. Since then she has worked with individuals and groups, focusing on healthy eating, weight management, Irritable Bowel Syndrome management and with Healthy Ireland on some wellness talks. However, it was the somewhat bumpy fertility journey of two of her best friends that really piqued her interest in fertility nutrition, spurring her on to study Nutrition Therapy for Fertility.
Good nutrition before and during pregnancy can help with many fertility challenges including:
Member of Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute
We are all aware that diet and lifestyle choices have a significant impact on our overall health throughout the life span. At a time when you are planning to become pregnant, healthy diet and lifestyle choices can make a hugely positive contribution to the chance of success on your fertility journey.
Dietary and other lifestyle choices, during the months before conception, can deliver key nutrients required to develop healthy sperm and eggs, increase opportunities for fertilisation, embryo development, and successful pregnancy. In this way good nutrition, through food choices and any required supplementation, can help optimise success and strengthening outcomes.
Recent research has shed much light on the role of nutrition and lifestyle in improving areas of fertility including, natural conception, egg and sperm health and in assisted fertility. Indeed epigenetics has shown that the right food and nutrition choices during pregnancy, can positively impact the health of baby right through their lifetimes.
Unfortunately there’s lots of ‘nutribabble and myths’ out there regarding all things nutrition, including nutrition and fertility. This can be overwhelming, confusing and unhelpful at a time when you are trying to do all you can to conceive.
As a registered dietitian my focus will be on targeted evidence based nutrition and lifestyle advice, to help optimise your fertility journey. There will be no restrictive or fad diets. My approach will be to support and work with you in a person centred, collaborative and holistic way.
I look forward to working with you and supporting your nutritional fertility goals.
083 0491002
lnhmacmahon@gmail.com
DI0398843
It is estimated that in about a third of cases there can be an issue with the male however it is well documented that male factor infertility is on the increase worldwide. Female issues are diagnosed also in a third of cases, with a third combined factor, both male and female. 10% of cases are of unknown origin.
Many things can change a woman’s ability to have a baby. These include:
– Age
– Smoking
– Excess alcohol use
– Stress
– Poor diet
– Athletic training
– Being overweight or underweight
– Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
– Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency
Many women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Age is a growing cause of fertility problems. About one-third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems.
Aging decreases a woman’s chances of having a baby in the following ways:
– Her ovaries become less able to release eggs.
– She has a smaller number of eggs left.
– Her eggs are not as healthy.
– She is more likely to have health conditions that can cause fertility problems.
– She is more likely to have a miscarriage.
Most experts suggest at least one year. Women 35 or older should see their doctors after six months of trying. A woman’s chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30.
Some health problems also increase the risk of infertility. So, women should talk to their doctors if they have:
– Irregular periods or no menstrual periods
– Very painful periods
– Endometriosis
– Pelvic inflammatory disease
– More than one miscarriage
It is a good idea for any woman to talk to a doctor before trying to get
pregnant. Doctors can help you get your body ready for a healthy baby. They
can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving.
Painful periods do not necessarily mean infertility. Regular painful periods are an indication of ovulatory cycles. However progressive pain before the menses or during the sexual act may signify endometriosis. Irregular menses should be investigated especially if you are obese.
Please submit your details and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.
Please reach out to us if you have any queries. A member of our team will respond as soon as possible and answer any questions you may have.
Kilminchy Court, Kilminchy, Portlaoise, Ireland, R32 CP30.
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
