[mialee]

I have always suffered and iron deficiency. Especially when I was pregnant I would always take additional iron pills.

I am going to have my iron levels tested tomorrow. I was reading that and iron deficiency can really affect you getting pregnant. I know without a doubt that I probably have low iron.

The things I am learning with this whole ttc stuff.

Someone had asked me the other day if low iron would affect fertility. Part of the blood - Hemoglobin - is the iron containing, oxygen transport of red blood cells. It is an imperative part of new red blood cell formation/creation. This is what I knew.....I talked to one of my instructors yesterday about it (who is a chiropractor and nutritionist), who said that absolutely, low iron would affect fertility (because of the important role in the formation of new rbc's). However, I also found this information...


A recent study found a link between low iron intake and female infertility, making increasing iron intake through food and iron supplements important for women trying to get pregnant. But why is iron so important to improving your fertility and what are the best sources of iron that you can incorporate into your healthy eating regimen?
The Link Between Female Infertility and Low Iron Intake

In a recent study, a low iron intake in women was found to lead to an increased risk of ovulatory infertility; meaning that a woman’s body is unable to produce healthy eggs.
The women who participated in the study had no history of infertility. They were prescribed different dosages of iron and iron supplements in order to test the effects on their fertility. The women’s prescribed iron intake was dependent on their age, weight and lifestyle, among other factors.
The study found that by increasing their intake of iron, the women had a 40 to 60% lowered risk of ovulatory infertility.
The study found that the higher the iron intake, the lower the women’s risk of developing ovulatory fertility problems. For example, women who consumed 41 miligrams or more of iron daily had a decreased risk of 62% of infertility problems. In addition, those women who were prescribed heme iron (iron that comes from animal sources, such as eggs) were also at higher risk for developing ovulatory fertility than those whose iron intake came from mostly non-heme iron (non-animal sources of iron, such as beans).
Sources of Iron



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[Caerus]

Does taking an iron supplement get you enough iron to not be deficient anymore? It'd be great if getting your iron up got you your BFP. FXed!

By the way, that picture in your siggy is beautiful! What a cutie!

Edit: Sounds like I need to up my iron intake. Will have to look up some foods containing it. Thanks for the info, fascinating stuff.

[mialee]

Oh thank you. That's my baby Katie and she is 5 years old and going to kindy this year. So bittersweet.

My husband and I are just looking at all avenues before I do something like clomid or IUI.

[rads75@aol.com]

I always had low iron levels until I completely cut dairy out of my diet. Dairy keeps you from absorbing iron and other vitamins. My levels are great now without having to take those constipation iron pills!

[mialee]

Originally Posted by rads75@aol.com

I always had low iron levels until I completely cut dairy out of my diet. Dairy keeps you from absorbing iron and other vitamins. My levels are great now without having to take those constipation iron pills!

I hate the pills as well lol. They suck

[Purple_cat]

Please do get your levels checked before you start taking extra added iron. Too much iron can also be a bad thing. It sounds like you are checking with your doctor to monitor your levels and that is great.

[mialee]

Originally Posted by Purple_cat

Please do get your levels checked before you start taking extra added iron. Too much iron can also be a bad thing. It sounds like you are checking with your doctor to monitor your levels and that is great.

No I am definitely checking with my dr first.

[lelila]

Sometimes all you need is a little more meat in your diet. With all the health cautions we are getting about eating too much meat, we have made ourselves unhealthy! 2x or 3x a week may be just what you need to get your iron up. Add spinach and beans and you have a great diet.

[Caerus]

After checking up on what foods contain iron, I know I'm probably all right.

[lelila]

Originally Posted by Caerus

After checking up on what foods contain iron, I know I'm probably all right.

Right. Remember back 100 years ago they didn't have prenatals or supplements. They had well-balanced, FULL FAT foods. But they were WHOLE foods, grown in the back yard. We have become a sterilized, reduced fat, reduced calorie society that has altered our perception of nutrition because of the processed foods that are available to us.

Once you get back to eating whole foods again, foods that are one ingredient, your health will improve.

That being said, it is important to take a prenatal or other supplements when directed. Remember that even though 100 years ago people ate properly they still had low birth weight babies, birth defects and crisis labor.