HOW NUTRITION IMPACTS YOUR FERTILITY
What you eat has a direct and measurable impact on your ability to conceive - for both women and men. Research consistently shows that targeted dietary changes in the pre-conception period can increase the likelihood of natural conception, improve egg and sperm quality, enhance the success rates of IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, and support a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Yet fertility nutrition is one of the most confusing and contradictory areas of dietary advice - with no shortage of misinformation online about what to eat, what to avoid, and which supplements to take. Our Perth fertility dietitians cut through that noise and give you a clear, personalised, evidence-based plan built around your specific fertility circumstances.
Whether you are just beginning to think about starting a family, have been trying to conceive for some time, are about to begin IVF, or are managing a condition like PCOS or endometriosis that is affecting your fertility - our team is here to help.
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse - or 6 months for women over 35. It affects approximately 1 in 6 Australian couples, and contrary to common perception, it is not solely a women's issue. Male factor infertility contributes to approximately half of all cases, which is why our Perth fertility dietitians address nutrition for both partners in the pre-conception period.
Fertility challenges can arise from a wide range of causes - many of which are directly or indirectly influenced by nutrition. Common contributing factors include PCOS, endometriosis, unexplained infertility, thyroid dysfunction, sperm quality issues, insulin resistance, excess or insufficient body weight, nutritional deficiencies, and the effects of chronic stress. In many cases, optimising nutrition addresses several of these factors simultaneously.
If you have been diagnosed with infertility, or are simply trying to give yourself the best possible chance of conceiving, nutrition is one of the most evidence-based and modifiable levers available to you - and one where working with a specialist Perth fertility dietitian makes a meaningful difference to outcomes.
UNDERSTANDING FERTILITY CHALLENGES
The relationship between diet and fertility is well established in the scientific literature. Here is what the research shows nutrition can do:
HOW NUTRITION DIRECTLY SUPPORTS FERTILITY: THE EVIDENCE
Improve egg quality - Egg quality is one of the most important determinants of successful conception and healthy pregnancy. Key nutrients including folate, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, vitamin D, and antioxidants from a diverse plant-rich diet all play documented roles in supporting oocyte development and protecting eggs from oxidative damage.
Improve sperm quality - Male fertility is equally responsive to nutritional intervention. Zinc, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E, lycopene, and omega-3 fatty acids have all been shown to support sperm count, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity. Our Perth fertility dietitians address nutrition for both partners, because optimising sperm quality is just as important as optimising egg quality.
Support healthy ovulation - Irregular or absent ovulation is one of the most common causes of female infertility, particularly in women with PCOS. A low-GI, anti-inflammatory dietary pattern that improves insulin sensitivity has been shown to restore ovulation in women who were previously not ovulating...without the need for fertility medication.
Enhance IVF success rates - Research shows that women following a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern in the pre-IVF period have significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates than those following a Western dietary pattern. Optimising nutrition in the weeks and months before an IVF cycle is one of the most impactful evidence-based steps you can take to improve your treatment outcomes.
Reduce miscarriage risk - Nutritional deficiencies, particularly in folate, vitamin D, iron, and iodine are associated with increased miscarriage risk. Addressing these deficiencies in the pre-conception period, through both dietary and supplementation strategies, is a key focus of our Perth fertility dietitian consultations.
Support a healthy pregnancy and baby - The nutritional environment in which a baby develops begins well before conception. Pre-conception nutrition influences not just the ability to conceive, but the long-term health of the child, including their risk of chronic disease, cognitive development, and birth outcomes.
The pre-conception period...ideally the three to six months before you begin trying to conceive is the most important window for optimising your nutritional status. This is when egg and sperm are developing, when key nutrient stores are being built, and when the foundations of a healthy pregnancy are being laid.
Our Perth fertility dietitians recommend beginning a pre-conception nutrition review at least three months before you plan to start trying, and ideally six months, particularly if you are undergoing fertility treatment, have a condition like PCOS or endometriosis, have a history of miscarriage, or are managing nutritional deficiencies.
Key areas our Perth fertility dietitians assess and address in the pre-conception period include folate and methylfolate status, iodine adequacy, iron stores, vitamin D levels, omega-3 fatty acid intake, dietary fibre and gut health, anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, body weight and composition, and supplementation strategy, ensuring you are taking the right supplements in the right doses for your individual circumstances, rather than a generic prenatal multivitamin alone.
PRE-CONCEPTION NUTRITION: WHEN SHOULD I START?
IVF & ASSISTED REPRODUCTION: NUTRITION SUPPORT FROM PERTH'S FERTILITY DIETITIANS
If you are preparing for IVF, FET, IUI, or other assisted reproductive technologies, nutrition is one of the most impactful modifiable factors in your treatment outcomes. It is that which is frequently overlooked by fertility clinics whose primary focus is medical management.
Our Perth fertility dietitians consult from within Fertility Specialists WA in Claremont and Applecross, and Genea Perth in Wembley...meaning you can see a specialist fertility dietitian in the same building as your reproductive medicine team. This co-location makes coordination of your care seamless and ensures your nutrition plan is aligned with your treatment protocol.
Pre-IVF nutrition support from our Perth fertility dietitians covers dietary optimisation for egg and sperm quality in the lead-up to stimulation, anti-inflammatory dietary strategies to support implantation, weight and body composition management where relevant to treatment outcomes, management of conditions affecting IVF success, including PCOS, endometriosis, and insulin resistance, and post-transfer nutritional support for early pregnancy.
CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT FERTILITY: HOW NUTRITION HELPS
Many of the conditions that contribute to fertility challenges are directly addressable through targeted dietary intervention. Our Perth fertility dietitians have specialist expertise in:
PCOS & Fertility
PCOS is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility in Australia. Improving insulin sensitivity through a low-GI dietary pattern can restore ovulation and significantly improve natural conception rates and IVF outcomes in women with PCOS.
Unexplained Infertility
For couples with unexplained infertility, optimising the nutritional status of both partners is one of the most evidence-based steps available. Addressing micronutrient deficiencies, improving dietary quality, and supporting gut and hormonal health can meaningfully improve conception chances in the absence of a clear medical diagnosis.
Recurrent Miscarriage
Nutritional deficiencies in folate, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium are associated with increased miscarriage risk. For couples who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss, a thorough nutritional assessment and targeted pre-conception plan is an important part of a comprehensive management approach.
Endometriosis & Fertility
Endometriosis affects up to 50% of women with fertility difficulties. An anti-inflammatory dietary approach targeting oestrogen metabolism, gut health, and systemic inflammation can reduce disease activity and support fertility outcomes alongside medical management.
Male Factor Infertility
Sperm quality is highly responsive to nutritional intervention. Our Perth fertility dietitians address male fertility nutrition in detail, covering dietary patterns, key micronutrients, antioxidant intake, and lifestyle factors that affect sperm count, motility, and DNA fragmentation.
Free Pre-Pregnancy Nutrition Checklist — From Perth's Fertility Dietitians
+ TASTY RECIPES
Not ready to book yet? Start here. Our Perth fertility dietitians have put together a comprehensive free pre-conception nutrition checklist covering the key dietary goals, fertility nutrient serving guides, and important considerations on caffeine, iodine, oily fish, folate, and more — plus a bonus recipe collection to get you started. Download your free copy below.
FIND A FERTILITY DIETITIAN NEAR YOU
BOOK A FERTILITY DIETITIAN IN PERTH
Our fertility dietitians consult from three convenient locations across Perth, PROmotion Health in Claremont, Fertility Specialists WA in both Claremont and Applecross, and Genea Perth in Wembley, making us uniquely positioned to provide seamlessly coordinated nutrition care alongside your reproductive medicine team.
Please note we also welcome non-fertility clients at all locations. Telehealth fertility dietitian appointments are available for clients across Western Australia and Australia-wide.
Promotion Health - Claremont
Phone: (08) 9284 4405
9 Leura Avenue
Claremont WA 6010
(opposite Claremont train station)
Fertility Specialists WA - Claremont
Phone: 1300 392 393
fertilitywa@cityfertility.com.au
Level 1, 4/278 Stirling Hwy,
Claremont WA 6010
Fertility Specialists WA - Applecross
Phone: 1300 392 393
fertilitywa@cityfertility.com.au
Level 1, 764 Canning Hwy,
Applecross WA 6153,
Genea Perth - Wembley
Phone: (08) 9389 4200
Level 2, 190 Cambridge Street,
Wembley WA 6014,
*We are covered by all the major private health funds and rebates are available for clients referred by their GP on EPC and Department of Veterans Affairs programs.
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