Digestive related fertility problems?

[Marley&Me]

Has anyone ever heard of their infertility being caused by a digestive problem? My acupuncturist says he thinks mine is linked. My symptoms for years have been:

-Excessive bloating
-Gas
-Flatulence
-Softer stools
-Frequent stools (up to 3 times a day
-Random pains in my uterus (PCOS)

Sounds like IBS, but I never have diarrhoea and never have constipation. My main problem is bloating. I look like I am 6 months pregnant by the end of the day and my stomach swells about 2 inches after I fill it. I have recently stopped drinking cows milk and it has helped with the bloating, but then other times I will still bloat. So it is too hard to distinguish exactly what is causing it. I may be wrong, but I just can't shake the feeling that my symptoms have a hand in my fertility problems and lack of ovulation.

What do you think?

[nothing2lose]

I know there can be a link between celiacs and infertility.

[Marley&Me]

I don't think it's celiac disease though. Well I'm assuming because everything causes bloating not just wheat.
What is the link anyway N2L?

[Marley&Me]

So I've just been reading up on celiacs disease and I have a few of the symptoms. Now I'm a bit worried actually. Except I gain weight when I eat lots

[Joeve]

Tasha interesting stuff. I limited my gluten intake on the months before my bfp. Funnily enough my dad mentioned he had seen something on that tv show The Drs linking gluten intolerance to infertility. I didn't cut it out completely but definitely reduced it dramatically and my bloating was nearly no existent,

[Andie78]

Me too re: bloating/gas/pain & reducing gluten intake. I have had a BT for gluten intolerance (can't remember what they actually called it/tested for now), but I don't have it. An immediate family member does though, so I thought why not try it & see what happens. Definitely a lot of info out there about inflammation of the gut and impact on fertility. Not sure if it's my issue, but I feel better for reducing gluten (and sugar) in my diet.

[Marley&Me]

I have a FS appointment in a couple of weeks so I will definitely ask. But there is gluten in everything so how do you cut it out without being one of those PITA that has to have gluten free!!?

So did both you ladies have the bad bloating too? Like mine?

[Joeve]

Sure did. I cut out bread, cakes, muffins, banana bread, gravies and sauces. I also cut out things like pizza, most take away.
Remember potatoes, anything rice made is gluten free.
I also gave up caffeine and upped my water intake.
I used to eat things like banana bread and people sitting near me at work would hear my stomach gurgling and I would feel it bloat.

[Amaunet]

My miscarriage is attributed to undiagnosed Coeliac disease. I have minor fertility issues as well. Going GF (if you have CD or gluten issues)is a pain but doable and totally worth how much better you feel. (and a healthy bubba) Your GP can do an initial blood test to check for CD

[Marley&Me]

Well I suppose I could try.....but I have to find substitutes if needed. Any idea's on the following:

Special K, mini wheat's, weetbix crunch, cheerio's.
Wholemeal roll, ham, cheese, avocado, tomato, carrot and lettuce.
Banana's and grapes

And what about dinner? What the heck will i cook? Some favourites are:

Shepherds pie (with pastry)
Chicken stir fry
Taco's or enchiladas
Tuna patties
Meatballs and mash

I can't possibly give them all up!!

[juniper76]

A lot of women with endo are mistaken diagnosed with IBS because of symptoms like that. There's an endo diet you can find online which is supposed to alleviate those symptoms (among others), but it's pretty similar to what is described above (no gluten, no dairy, no soy, no red meat, no refined sugars, no alcohol, etc).

I'm not saying you have endo, just that you might find the diet interesting.

[Ladylove]

It took over 18 months for my BFP and in hindsight I think my fertility issues (undiagnosed or at least put down to mystery infertility) were in part digestion related. I had a history of stomach cramps and bloating but no stool issues either way. But at the start of 2011 I came down with excruciating stomach/waist/mid-lower back pain that came and went but ended up lasting hours and it went on for a month. Everything was ruled out and it was a complete mystery. Out of desperation (at its worst I couldn't eat a single thing without setting it off) I changed my diet and only ate fresh, unprocessed really simple foods. I cut out coffee, milk, cheese, chocolate, lollies and anything overly oily or starchy. I still ate bread and pasta though. Maybe it was a coincidence but gradually my symptoms lessened then disappeared. Shortly after this got better I also started getting hot blotchy rashes whenever I drank wine or sometimes randomly. I put all of it down to my body's immune system going into overdrive and rejecting or detoxing or whatever. Anyway sorry to overload you with details but long story short two months later I got a very strong BFP and now my baby girl is almost 8 months. No tests ever offered anything absolute and even a reproductive and abdominal ultrasound came up clear (though I was borderline too many follies) but I'm sure somewhere there was a link between my chronic pain, the rashes and my fertility.

[Marley&Me]

Thanks for sharing ladies
I definitely think it's related. But how am I supposed to cut almost everything out of my diet!!? I work 40+ hour weeks and am struggling to find time for my acupuncture as it is. I shall see what I can do I suppose. But it's going to be the hardest thing ever!

[jo_white83]

Hi Tasha,

I too have symptoms like yours, but have tried living GF (my m-i-l has CD) and unfortunately that didnt help any of my symptoms... I try to just stay away from fatty and overly processed foods where possible- i find that is when my bloating, cramping etc, is at its worst! I also understand what you mean by having little to no time to prepare foods! The thing that works best for me is to just make sure that i have fruit on hand for snacks during the day, prepare my lunches the night before and try to have dinner organised the night before so all i have to do is cook it...

Eating GF though doesn't mean you can't have your favorite foods, it just means finding alternative ways to cook them and maybe substituting some ingredients! You would be surprised at some of the things you can still have!

[Em_325]

Tasha I hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread momentarily with a question but it has me wondering....

The link with coeliac disease and infertility/mc is that just for females with it or can it have an impact on a males fertility as well? I ask because DH was diagnosed with coeliacs disease 7 weeks ago and we have been TTC since Apr 10 and we have had one BFP in that time which resulted in mc. Prob not related at all but can't help but wonder....

Tasha I will add that I found it extremely difficult cutting out gluten at the start esp as I do all the cooking and I have no issues with gluten (there was no way I was going to cook two separate meals) but once we saw a dietician and got some advice it actually isn't that bad. The time factor was my biggest issue as well as like you I work a crazy amount of hours every week so I brought a thermomix and it has made it all so much easier.

[Amaunet]

Well I suppose I could try.....but I have to find substitutes if needed. Any idea's on the following:

Special K, mini wheat's, weetbix crunch, cheerio's.
Wholemeal roll, ham, cheese, avocado, tomato, carrot and lettuce.
Banana's and grapes

And what about dinner? What the heck will i cook? Some favourites are:

Shepherds pie (with pastry)
Chicken stir fry
Taco's or enchiladas
Tuna patties
Meatballs and mash

I can't possibly give them all up!!

Gluten is found in wheat, rye and barley (and a different type of gluten in oats) I highly recommend the App from the Coeliac society if you have a smart phone, well worth the price and it explains how to read labels so you don't have to rely on something being marked "Gluten Free" as many regular products are GF by ingredient, as for your list, don't panic

Special K, mini wheat's, weetbix crunch, cheerio's. I like the Freedom Food Cereals, I like the "Berry Good Morning", it reminds me of the Special K with fruit variety, they also have others.
Wholemeal roll, ham, cheese, avocado, tomato, carrot and lettuce. You have to substitute bread, this is by far the hardest part. The new version of Country Life brand bread is the most like real bread I have found, but still not the same. I also have the corn or rice thins with yummy toppings
Banana's and grapes All fruit is gluten free

And what about dinner? What the heck will i cook? Some favourites are:

Shepherds pie (with pastry) There is gluten free pastry in the freezer section, blue box, not quite the same, I personally wouldn't bother and would just do the mashed potato
Chicken stir fry EASY! There are stack of GF stir fry sauces, the Ayam brand if making your own sauce (ie Oyster sauce, Doy sauce etc or the pre made marinades and sauces by Masterfoods are good too - not necessarily marked GF but none in the ingredients.
Taco's or enchiladas- most Taco stuff is GF by ingredient and you just have to get the Corn Tortillas instead of the flour ones.
Tuna patties Do you make your own? You can get GF bread crumbs etc and Tuna (and all meat/fish/poultry) is GF, there are very few cooking ingredients you can't get a good GF substitute for
Meatballs and mash Again if you make your own, so easy and potato (and all veg) is GF

Eating GF though doesn't mean you can't have your favorite foods, it just means finding alternative ways to cook them and maybe substituting some ingredients! You would be surprised at some of the things you can still have!

This is great advice from Jo I really struggled at the start, but 21 months since my diagnosis, it's second nature and I feel so much better. For me, feeling so much better makes it all worth it!

If you decide to go GF, ask as many questions as you need, there's a few BB members who are GF

[Rowellen]

Thanks for sharing ladies
I definitely think it's related. But how am I supposed to cut almost everything out of my diet!!? I work 40+ hour weeks and am struggling to find time for my acupuncture as it is. I shall see what I can do I suppose. But it's going to be the hardest thing ever!

I can think of two ways to go about it.
1. cold turkey - take a weekend or two to make up a few weekly meal plans. Go through your pantry and separate all the "baddies". Pick a date to start. On the day prior, go shopping for your first weekly meal plan. On the start date, throw out the "baddies" and get started.
2. Do it gradually. One meal at a time. Find substitutes for favourites.

My situation is slighty different. I have PCOS. My dr recommended a low GI diet. I was working heaps too and going cold turkey just seemed too overwhelming for me so I gradually changed things. I bought Basmati rice instead of jasmine. I cut down potatoes and increased vegies. I looked for the bread with the lowest GI & switched that. I did this gradually over the time I was TTC. I lost about 2kgs and concieved DS month 9 (cycle 6). I was also taking metformin to help regulate my cycles. HTH

[Ladylove]

Gluten wasn't an issue for me. It was refined sugars and chocolate. I don't think you should cut out everything - normally you would cut out one type of food at a time for two weeks to see if that makes a difference. If not, try eliminating another food for two weeks.