When couples struggle to conceive, their first thoughts often turn to age, stress, or medical conditions. Diet is mentioned, but usually in the context of managing weight or general health.
Yet what we are increasingly learning now is that the kind of food people eat, and particularly the dominance of ultra-processed products, may be quietly affecting fertility far more than commonly realised.
Ultra-processed foods are those brightly packaged, ready-to-eat items we see in every supermarket aisle – instant noodles, sugary drinks, fried snacks, frozen meals.
They are convenient, cheap, and very tempting, but they are also high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, while being low in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. If eaten occasionally, they may not cause harm. The problem is for families who eat them regularly and have replaced fresh, home-cooked meals with them.
For women, this shift has clear consequences. A diet heavy in processed foods worsens insulin resistance, a key driver of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is one of the most common causes of irregular ovulation. Lack of nutrients also reduces egg quality and affects the uterine environment.
The picture is just as worrying for men, too. Studies link regular intake of processed meats, fried foods and sugary drinks with lower sperm count, weaker motility and higher DNA damage. These changes directly reduce the likelihood of conception.
There are other hidden risks, too. Many of these products come in plastic packaging that can release chemicals that can act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with hormones vital for reproduction in both men and women.
Infertility is never caused by one factor alone, but ultra-processed foods are becoming an important piece of the puzzle. Replacing some of these with fresh grains, fruits, vegetables, and proteins is a simple step that can strengthen the body’s natural ability to support new life.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.