What to Eat for a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
What to eat for a frozen embryo transfer? So you’re planning a frozen embryo transfer and want to give yourself the best chance of getting pregnant. You might be wondering if there are any foods can best support your body? Is there a diet that could improve my uterine lining or progesterone? Well, there are a few different strategies I implement with my clients depending on their health history.
History of a Thin Endometrial Lining
Having a endometrial lining close to 11mm results in the highest pregnancy rates. I’ll often recommend consuming nitric oxide promoting food as they play a vital role in improving uterine blood flow and may indirectly assist in achieving the optimal lining thickness needed for successful implantation.
From cycle day 1 until a transfer aim to include the following foods in your diet daily:
- – Beetroot: High in nitrates, which are converted into nitric oxide.
- Leafy Greens: Spinach, arugula, kale, and Swiss chard are excellent sources of dietary nitrates which convert to nitric oxide.
- – Citrus Fruits: Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, and mandarins are rich in vitamin C, which helps stabilise nitric oxide in the body.
- – Garlic: Contains compounds that enhance nitric oxide production.
- – Pomegranate: Packed with antioxidants that support nitric oxide activity.
- – Nuts and Seeds: Particularly walnuts and flaxseeds, for their arginine content, an amino acid used to make nitric oxide.
- – Watermelon: Contains citrulline, which converts into arginine and subsequently nitric oxide.
Endometriosis
Those with endometriosis can have dysbiosis (an imbalance of beneficial and harmful bacteria) within the endometrial lining, higher levels of immune dysfunction, and oestrogen dominance. All of these factors can affect implantation of an embryo. Leading up to a frozen embryo transfer and throughout the two week wait, I’ll recommend women eat fermented foods, anti-oxidant rich foods, and prebiotics. These foods can help support the reproductive microbiome, modulate the immune system and help with oestrogen detoxification to help you get pregnant. Examples include:
- – Fermented Foods: Yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, miso, kombucha
- – Antioxidants: Berries, green tea (caffeine free), dark chocolate, nuts, spinach, turmeric
- – Prebiotics: Garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, whole grains
Low progesterone
Many carotenoids (e.g., beta-carotene) are converted into vitamin A in the body, which can play a supportive role in progesterone production and progesterone receptor function. Adequate vitamin A is essential for progesterone secretion. If there are high levels of inflammation in the body this can also impair progesterone receptor sensitivity and signalling. Carotenoids have anti-inflammatory properties. Leading up to an frozen embryo transfer I recommend client eat the following foods:
- – Orange and Red: Carrots, oranges, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, capsicum, tomatoes, mango, papaya, rockmelon, apricots.
- – Green: Spinach, kale, broccoli, peas, cos lettuce, green beans, capsicum, kiwifruit.
- – Yellow: Yellow capsicum, golden beetroots, spaghetti squash.
Now you know what to eat for a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
Now you know what to eat for a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET). If you know someone who would benefit from having this information then I’d greatly appreciate you share this blog with them!
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