Q&A on fertility claims

[Chris_Peters]

Superfoods to promote your chances of conceiving, home-made energy bars to ward off infertility, and even fertility astrologers. Fertility is a global industry and there are hundreds of claims out there. But which ones are based on evidence that they work?

We've teamed up with Mumsnet, Progress Educational Trust and the British Fertility Society to answer your questions. If you've seen claims about fertility treatments, products, policies and more - add your questions below or head over to Mumsnet and join the discussion.

mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_q_...

[Penel]

Not a question, but an observation.

Undiagnosed coeliac disease has a strong link to unexplained fertility problems in some women. Coeliac disease is unfortunately severely under diagnosed in the general population. It is not just a GI problem, but can affect the whole body.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[egovereem]

The EU has a special agency called EFSA that evaluates health claims on foodingredients.

There are a few fertility claims with a positive opinion = scientifically proven.

On fertility there have been several effects proven:

Selenium is good for male fertiliy, sperm quality and sperm functioning.

Zink has the sameeffects, but is also good for female fertility.

A combination of Seleen+Zink is, based on EFSA science, good for fertility.

Checking the labels of food for these minerals is good. EFSA has a minumum amount of 15% RDA.

A supplement as aslo an option. EFSA has investigated raw materials too. Selenium yeast is the best available form.

All original EFSA documents are easely found on the web: google EFSA opinion + name.

This is one of the good things of the EU. You can check yourself what is good for you.

[Chris_Peters Sense About Science]

Our Q&A on common claims made about fertility products and policies is now live. You can read all the answers on the Mumsnet Q&As page here:

mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_q_...

[Hidden]

The timing's off for me as I've just been through this, but it's really good advice. There's so much conflicting information and misinformation out there that some trustworthy expert answers are much needed.

[Morphix]

Great topic Chris. Yet another health area which has given birth (pardon the pun) to an expoitative industry and full of quackery that relies on exploiting often very desparate and unhappy couples.

In amost every area of health, where there's health problems or worries, there's people with no ethics willing to exploit them and make money by selling false hopes and putting out misinformation.

From the skinny guy to muscle-bound hulk exercise and diet programs, to drop 4 dress sizes in 12 weeks, to the bigger, firmer breasts creams, to the 20 years off your age face creams. Multi-billion dollar industries in every area. Just think what they money could do if put into more worthwhile health causes or given to those who need it in the poorest places on earth.

This site and ones like it are really empowering and educating people to make informed choices and avoid this cash-wasting products.