High Dairy Fats Boost Fertility (Ovulation) and Low-Fat Dairy Foods May Boost Infertility

The average menstrual cycle (Physiological changes that occur in females associated with reproductive fertility. Two phases occur during the menstrual cycle. Follicular phase: When ovarian follicles are developed. Luteal Phase: The time period that's calculated from the dayafter ovulation and runs through the remainder of a monthly cycle.), occurs regularly over 28 days, however interval cycles could last from 21 to 35 days. The pituitary hormones influence each menstrual cycle (Hypothalamus gland in the brain releases the chemical messenger, Follicle Stimulating Hormone Releasing Factor (FSH-RF), informs the pituitary gland in the brain to secrete (FSH) and a little Leuteinizing Hormone (LH - controls the length and sequence of the female menstrual cycle.) into the blood stream, which cause the follicles to begin to mature.

During this time several ovarian follicles (Ovarian follicles cells found in the ovary. Contain single egg (oocytle or ovum)) begin to mature and develop. Usually one follicle develops fully, and the others follicles recede. The dominant follicle produces an egg. Occasionally, two or more eggs erupt during the menstrual cycle. The average time within the menstrual cycle that an egg(s) erupt from the ovary occurs, on the fourteenth or sixteenth day or approximately two weeks before the onset of the next menstrual period. During ovulation, the mature egg (ovum) is released from the ovarian follicle. The egg is picked up by one of the fallopian tubes or travels through one of the fallopian tubes and eventually reaches the uterus. Within the uterus, fertilization occurs, provided sperm from the male is present in the tube. After ovulation, the lifespan of an egg is 12 - 24 hours. After the time has elapsed, the egg begins to degenerate and no longer capable of being fertilized. However, presents of sperm deposited prior to ovulation can survive in the reproductive tract for a few days, and thus a few days before ovulation takes place, considered fertile days.

Frequently used to determine the timing of ovulation, a type of blood test called luteinizing hormone (LH) test, measures the level of luteinizing hormone (lultropin). Before woman ovulates during her menstrual cycle, the hormone level is the highest. This is optimal time or ideal time for couples trying to become pregnant.

Study published February 28, 2007, in the journal Human Reproduction and the online website, Harvard researchers (Harvard School of Public Health in Boston) found that women who consumed one or more servings of whole -- milk products a day, were twenty-seven percent less likely to experience infertility caused by a failure to ovulate, then those who ate less than one serving a week. According to the study, an extra -- eight ounce serving of whole milk daily had the greatest effect, cutting the risk of failure to ovulate by more than fifty percent. Also, women who ate two or more servings a day of low -- fat dairy food were almost twice as likely to fail to ovulate, as to women who are less then one serving a week. The study was based upon analyzing information from a survey (completed every to two years during the study) given to 18,555 married premenopausel women (The women in the study were part of a large group of 116,000 women in the Nurses Health Study, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.) without a history of infertility, from 1991 - 1999, ages 24 to 42, who became pregnant or tried to become pregnant. During the eight - year period, 438 diagnosed cases of infertility because of failure to ovulate. There was no statistical difference that affected the results by eating an extra half-cup of ice cream a day.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Jorge Chavarro - a research fellow in the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston said: "Clarifying the role of dairy foods intake on fertility is particularly important since the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend adults consume three or more daily servings of low-fat milk or equivalent dairy products, a strategy that may well be deleterious for women planning to become pregnant, as it would give them an 85 percent higher risk of anovulatory infertility according to our findings." Mr. Chavarro wrote in an E-mailed exchange: "What we think at this moment is that either dairy fat itself or something traveling along dairy fat, such as cow's sex hormones present in milk, may explain the association." However, overindulge in high calorie dairy treats not recommended. Also, Dr. Chavarro said: "women who are trying to get pregnant should eat a high fat dairy products but switch back to low fat dairy foods once they do conceive."

Previous studies suggesting an association of lactase is related to infertility or lack of ovulation, showed no correlation at all, either negative or positive. Also, according to Dr. Chavarro, no link was found with calcium, phosphorous or vitamin D intake.

Dr. Chavarro acknowledged at least one previous study contradicted his results. He was not prepared to recommend whole -- milk foods to women trying to become pregnant. Further research is necessary to confirm or refute, the research into the association between low fat daily foods and anovulatory infertility.

In May 2006, a study published article in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine by Dr. Gary Steinman, an attending physician at Long Island Jewish Medical Center: Women who consume animal products -- specifically diary -- are five times more likely to have twins. Dr. Steinman said: "The continuing increase in the twinning rate in the 1990s, however, may also be consequence of the introduction of growth -- hormone treatment of cows to enhance their milk and beef production." Also, the study mentioned overall chance of pregnancies is determined by a combination of diet and hereditary.

Anovulatory infertility occurs when the ovaries don't produce an egg. Attributed to possible causes: Eating disorder, diet, excessive exercise, cysts and long -- term use of the contraceptive pill. Obesity is increasingly a common cause for infertility or ovulation. Weight loss is an effective treatment to increase fertility. However, obesity in women effective treatment for ovulation would not include high fat diary products, as previously reported, since this approach would be contradictory.