Wessex Fertility - Consultation Booklet

Pre-Conceptual Diet and Lifestyle Tips

A Guide to Wessex Fertility

Does Wessex Fertility undertake research activities? Research activities are carried out at Wessex Fertility in conjunction with the University of Southampton. If you give written consent, body fluids and cells that are normally dis - posed of may be provided for research. A comprehensive discussion regarding research and your options is provided prior to consent. Any samples are supplied to the Universi- ty of Southampton which is duly licensed for such research activities. What should I do if I have a complaint? Please raise any complaint with a member of staff immediately so that we can try to resolve the issue as soon as possible. If you are not satisfied with a response in the the early stage, or you feel it is not appropriate to raise the matter with the staff member, please ask for a copy of our Patient Information Sheet – Complaints Procedure or notify our Quality Manager. How do you ensure that a quality service is being offered? Wessex Fertility is licensed to provide treatments under the Human Fertilisation & Em- bryology Act 1990 and registered under the Care Standards Act. As such the clinic is regularly inspected by the Care Quality Commission and the Human Fertilisation & Em- bryology Authority (HFEA) in line with regulatory requirements. Inspection reports are available as public documents via the regulatory body websites. Our staff are all com- mitted to providing the best quality service possible and take part in regular audits with a view to improving practice. We are also working towards ISO 9001 accreditation. Wessex Fertility General Manager - Gillian Dawes Wessex Fertility Quality Manager - Naomi Cloutman Wessex Fertility Nurse Manager - Jo Payne Wessex Fertility Laboratory Manager - Tony Price Wessex Fertility Patient Support Manager - Rosie Bishop All Wessex Fertility staff are contactable via: info@wessexfertility.com or 02380 706000 Wessex Fertility Registered Manager and Nominal Licensee - Laurel Hird, Head Of Quality The Fertility Partnership Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) , Finsbury Tower, 103 – 105 Bunhill Row, LONDON. EC1Y 8TG. Tel: 020 7291 8200, Email: enquiriesteam@hfea.gov.uk Care Quality Commission (CQC) , Tel: 03000 616161 Web: www.cqc.org.uk Wessex Fertility Person Responsible - Dr Susan Ingamells PhD, FRCOG Consultant in Reproductive Medicine

Wessex Fertility is often asked about how to improve diet and lifestyle whilst undergoing fertility treatment. After many years of treating patients and advising on a healthy lifestyle that encourages fertility, we have developed a few pre-conceptual diet and lifestyle tips, which you may find helpful. These tips are for both men and women. DOES DIET AFFECT FERTILITY? Foods and fertility are linked in both men and women. If you have a balanced diet, you can increase your chances of conceiving and of having a healthy baby. To maximise the benefits, you should aim to improve your diet three months to a year before conception. WHAT IS THE IDEAL BODY WEIGHT FOR BEST FERTILITY? Ideally you should be as close as possible to the recommended weight for your height when trying for a baby (This is measured as BMI; ideal range 19-25). Being overweight or underweight can reduce your chances of conceiving. Both extremes can stop women from ovulating. You may therefore choose to lose or gain some weight before trying to get pregnant. If your BMI is below 18 or above 35, we will be unable to commence treatment for you and will advise you of ways to achieve a normal body weight prior to commencing treatment. If you are overweight, a sensible eating plan should include lower fat and higher fibre foods, but do not forget to exercise. Extreme weight loss from crash dieting can deplete your body’s nutritional stores, which is not a good way to start a pregnancy. If being overweight or underweight is something that is identified during your fertility journey, your consultant will give you further information about weight gain and weight loss strategies. WHAT IS A HEALTHY EATING PLAN? Healthy eating means eating a balanced diet. The Food Standards Agency recommends eating a variety of foods while trying to conceive, including: • Fruit and vegetables - these can be fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or a glass of juice. Aim for at least five portions a day. • Carbohydrate foods such as bread, pasta, rice (preferably wholegrain) and potatoes. • Protein such as lean meat and chicken, fish, eggs and pulses (beans and lentils). • Fish, at least twice a week, including some oily fish, but not more than two portions of oily fish a week. This includes fresh tuna (not canned tuna, which does not count as oily fish), mackerel, sardines and trout. • Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, which contain calcium. • Iron-rich foods, such as red meat, pulses, dried fruit, bread, green vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals, to build up your resources of iron in preparation for pregnancy. Your body absorbs iron better if you have some food or drink containing vitamin C, such as fruit or vegetables, or a glass of fruit juice with any iron-rich meals.

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