You may, or may not, be surprised at the regularity with which I see women in my clinic who have been told they have low ovarian reserve. Many of these women are as young as 25 years of age.
While the health of our ovaries and oocytes is determined while we are in our mother’s uterus [more information on this is in my book], there are many things that can be done to support our fertility outcomes once we reach adulthood.
Optimal nutrient levels are essential to health, and having adequate iodine levels may support ovarian reserve.
A pilot study has revealed that two months of low-dose iodine supplementation improved egg quality in women with low ovarian reserve. Researchers say iodine supports ovarian health by regulating gene expression and protecting granulosa cells from oxidative stress and apoptosis.
This lines up with my decades of clinical observation that iodine can promote healthy ovulation.
However, before you go out and get yourself some iodine, please read on.
Not all iodine is created equally. There are a few well-known brands that I never recommend. Therefore, I encourage you to discuss your personal iodine needs with a qualified naturopath who will also be able to recommend a quality supplement or food sources (depending on your needs).
Further, you should always test to establish what your actual iodine levels are as taking excess iodine can be detrimental for your health and fertility outcomes.
I do appreciate that it can be frustrating for you to read my blogs and be told to consult a qualified professional. No doubt many of you would prefer me to just provide recommendations of products that you can purchase and take, or better still make these available for purchase on my website. It is also frustrating for me to not be permitted to recommend/sell clean/quality brands but the Australian Therapeutics & Goods Administration (TGA) guidelines prevent qualified practitioners from making any recommendations/prescribing/selling products outside a clinic environment.
