A Nutrition Screening Form for Female Infertility Patients

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
20 November 2014

Abstract

A Nutrition Screening Form (NSF) was designed to identify lifestyle risk factors that negatively impact fertility and to provide a descriptive profile of 300 female infertility patients in a private urban infertility clinic. The NSF was mailed to all new patients prior to the initial physician's visit and self-reported data were assessed using specific criteria to determine if a nutrition referral was warranted. This observational study revealed that 43% of the women had a body mass index (BMI) <20 or ≥25 kg/m2, known risks for infertility. Almost half reported a history of “dieting” and unrealistic weight goals potentially limiting energy and essential nutrients. A high number reported eating disorders, vegetarianism, low fat or low cholesterol diets, and dietary supplement use. Fourteen percent appeared not to supplement with folic acid, 13% rated exercise as “extremely” or “very active”, and 28% reported a “high” perceived level of stress. This preliminary research demonstrated that a NSF can be a useful tool to identify nutrition-related lifestyle factors that may negatively impact fertility and identified weight, BMI, diet, exercise, and stress as modifiable risk factors deserving future research. NSF information can help increase awareness among health professionals and patients about the important link between nutrition, fertility, and successful reproductive outcomes.

Résumé

Un formulaire d’évaluation nutritionnelle (FÉN) a été conçu pour identifier les facteurs de risque liés au style de vie qui ont un impact négatif sur la fertilité. Par ailleurs, le formulaire a permis d’établir le profil descriptif de 300 patientes d'une clinique d'infertilité privée située dans une grande ville. Le FÉN a été envoyé par courrier à toutes les nouvelles patientes avant leur première visite chez le médecin, et les données déclarées par les intéressées ont été évaluées à l'aide de critères précis en vue de déterminer si un aiguillage vers un professionnel de la nutrition était justifié. Cette étude observationnelle a révélé que 43 % des femmes avaient un indice de masse corporelle (IMC) <20 kg/m2 ou ≥25 kg/m2, un facteur de risque connu de l'infertilité. Presque la moitié des répondantes ont admis avoir déjà fait des régimes et avoir des objectifs irréalistes en ce qui a trait à leur poids, ce qui pourrait limiter leur apport en énergie et en nutriments essentiels. Un nombre élevé de femmes ont rapporté des troubles alimentaires, du végétarisme, des diètes pauvres en gras ou en cholestérol de même que l'utilisation de suppléments alimentaires. Quatorze pour cent des participantes semblaient ne pas prendre de suppléments d'acide folique, 13 % ont indiqué être « extrêmement » ou « très » actives et 28 % ont rapporté un niveau de stress perçu « élevé ». Cette recherche préliminaire a démontré qu'un FÉN peut constituer un outil utile pour identifier les facteurs propres au mode de vie et liés à la nutrition qui pourraient nuire à la fertilité. En outre, elle a permis d’établir que le poids, l'IMC, l'alimentation, le niveau d'exercice et le stress sont des facteurs de risque modifiables qui méritent d’être étudiés davantage. Les renseignements recueillis à l'aide d'un FÉN peuvent contribuer à accroître la sensibilisation chez les professionnels de la santé et les patients au sujet de l'importance du lien entre la nutrition, la fertilité et des résultats positifs en matière de reproduction.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Table 1 (cjdpr-2014-024suppl.pdf)

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Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 75Number 4December 2014
Pages: 195 - 201

History

Version of record online: 20 November 2014

Authors

Affiliations

Susie Langley, MS, RD, DS, FDC
Nutrition Consultant, Toronto, ON

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