{"id":2716,"date":"2026-03-10T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/?page_id=2716"},"modified":"2026-03-10T13:31:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:31:55","slug":"fertility-dietetics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/treatments-and-services\/fertility-dietetics\/","title":{"rendered":"Fertility Dietetics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the United Kingdom, roughly 1 in 7 couples have difficulty conceiving, even if they have<br>unprotected sex every 2-3 days a week for a year. Around 30% of infertility is related to men, 30%<br>to women, 30% to both men and women, whilst 10% is unexplained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><div class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-host wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover\"><a class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food.jpg\" data-wpcp-wp-lb-image=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"health food\" class=\"wp-image-2731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food-1520x760.jpg 1520w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food.jpg 1696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><span class=\"media-credit\">AI generated<\/span><\/figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"wpcp-wp-img-2731\" class=\"wpcp-lightbox-trigger wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon wpcp-position-top-right wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover wpcp-global-lightbox-icon wpcp-lightbox-icon--global wpcp-lb-icon-style-default\" data-wpcp-lb-icon-source=\"global\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" data-thumb-src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/health-food-300x150.jpg\" data-wpcp-lb-single=\"1\"><span class=\"wpcp-icon-container\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"><path d=\"M17.6585 16.025L14.2437 12.6198C15.1716 11.3338 15.6121 9.7613 15.4871 8.1819C15.362 6.60251 14.6795 5.11847 13.5607 3.99351C12.936 3.36206 12.1916 2.86066 11.3709 2.51845C10.5502 2.17623 9.66952 2 8.77995 2C7.89039 2 7.00969 2.17623 6.18899 2.51845C5.36829 2.86066 4.62395 3.36206 3.99919 3.99351C3.36594 4.61649 2.86312 5.35871 2.51992 6.17708C2.17673 6.99545 2 7.87365 2 8.76068C2 9.64772 2.17673 10.5259 2.51992 11.3443C2.86312 12.1627 3.36594 12.9049 3.99919 13.5279C5.11957 14.6901 6.62279 15.4103 8.23285 15.5562C9.84291 15.7022 11.4517 15.2641 12.7639 14.3224L16.1788 17.7275C16.3849 17.9034 16.6473 18 16.9186 18C17.1899 18 17.4523 17.9034 17.6585 17.7275C18.1138 17.16 18.1138 16.5925 17.6585 16.025ZM5.59278 12.0523C5.16258 11.6298 4.82094 11.1263 4.58774 10.5709C4.35455 10.0156 4.23446 9.41951 4.23446 8.81744C4.23446 8.21536 4.35455 7.6193 4.58774 7.06394C4.82094 6.50859 5.16258 6.00503 5.59278 5.58257C6.01644 5.15359 6.52144 4.81292 7.07838 4.58039C7.63532 4.34786 8.23308 4.22811 8.83687 4.22811C9.44066 4.22811 10.0384 4.34786 10.5954 4.58039C11.1523 4.81292 11.6573 5.15359 12.081 5.58257C12.5112 6.00503 12.8528 6.50859 13.086 7.06394C13.3192 7.6193 13.4393 8.21536 13.4393 8.81744C13.4393 9.41951 13.3192 10.0156 13.086 10.5709C12.8528 11.1263 12.5112 11.6298 12.081 12.0523C11.6573 12.4813 11.1523 12.822 10.5954 13.0545C10.0384 13.287 9.44066 13.4068 8.83687 13.4068C8.23308 13.4068 7.63532 13.287 7.07838 13.0545C6.52144 12.822 6.01644 12.4813 5.59278 12.0523Z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Female Fertility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women may experience infertility for many reasons, some of which are modifiable. These include<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Age; fertility starts to decline from the early 30s, particularly from the age of 35<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Irregular periods or ovulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certain health conditions e.g. polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, thyroid<br>disease, fibroids and uncontrolled diabetes or coeliac disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having a body mass index (BMI) in the underweight, overweight or obesity categories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certain lifestyle habits e.g. smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or excessive exercise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Genetics; chromosomal abnormalities and genetic diseases <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unexplained infertility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medications that may interfere with various aspects of fertility. If you are on regular<br>medications, seek advice from your GP before trying to conceive <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/Female-Fertility.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"2720\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What steps can I take to improve my fertility? &#8211; this leaflet offers diet and lifestyle advice to improve your overall general health and fertility<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Male Fertility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Male infertility has many causes: genetic, medical abnormalities or lifestyle issues. Smoking,<br>obesity, poor diet and environmental factors (like pollution or exposure to harmful pesticides<br>and chemicals) can also cause oxidative stress. This stress may cause damage to the sperm<br>and affect its ability to fertilise an egg and grow a healthy baby. Fertility in both men and women<br>reduces as you get older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It takes between 2 \u2013 3 months for new sperm to fully mature. That means it\u2019s a good idea to think<br>about making changes to your diet and lifestyle at least 3 months before you try for a baby.<br>A fertility dietitian can give you individualised, evidence-based diet and lifestyle information to<br>help improve your chances of conception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/03\/Male-Fertility.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"2719\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What steps can I take to improve my fertility? &#8211; this leaflet offers diet and lifestyle advice to improve your overall general health and fertility<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Referral to Weight Management<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be referred to our specialist fertility dietician, please ask your GP to refer you to weight management adding in fertility services. Our dedicated dietician will be in contact once the referral has been triaged. In the meantime please download and read the leaflets above.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the United Kingdom, roughly 1 in 7 couples have difficulty conceiving, even if they haveunprotected sex every 2-3 days a week for a year. Around 30% of infertility is related to men, 30%to women, 30% to both men and women, whilst 10% is unexplained. Female Fertility Women may experience infertility for many reasons, some<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":303,"featured_media":0,"parent":310,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-2716","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"joannaablett","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/author\/joannaablett\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"In the United Kingdom, roughly 1 in 7 couples have difficulty conceiving, even if they haveunprotected sex every 2-3 days a week for a year. Around 30% of infertility is related to men, 30%to women, 30% to both men and women, whilst 10% is unexplained. Female Fertility Women may experience infertility for many reasons, some","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/303"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2716"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2738,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2716\/revisions\/2738"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}