Nutrition, Hormones, and Ovarian Health: Can Lifestyle Choices Make a Difference? 

By Dr. Rohan Palshetkar, Consultant IVF Specialist, Bloom IVF, Palshetkar Patil Nursing Home, Opera House 

Maintaining good health relies on making thoughtful, consistent choices, and ovarian health is no exception. Healthy ovaries are vital for reproduction and overall well-being. They produce eggs and key hormones that support heart, bone, and brain health, as well as longevity. 

Ovarian health depends on proper nutrition, hormonal balance, and healthy lifestyle choices. Nutrition plays a crucial role. Focus on a diet rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. Include a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, lean proteins such as poultry and fish, berries, beans, and nuts. Leafy vegetables, which are high in folate, support ovulation and egg development. 

A healthy diet needs support from good hydration. It helps with circulation, nutrient delivery throughout the body, and hormone regulation. Fluids like water, fruit smoothies, herbal teas, etc. create and move important hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, that work towards ovulation and getting your periods. A well-hydrated system helps prevent cervical mucus from thickening, aiding in the insemination of the egg.  

Certain supplements boost insulin sensitivity, ovulation, ovarian function and quality, cellular health, improve fertility and hormone balance, and fight stress. Choose supplements like Inositols (Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol), antioxidants like Vitamin C, B and E, and Melatonin, herbal supplements with herbs like Ashwagandha and Maca Root, and amino acids. Always consult a healthcare expert beforehand.  

Your existing health condition and issues can be the reason behind your ovaries-related troubles like PCOS/PCOD, endometriosis, autoimmune disease, ovarian cysts or tumors, pelvic inflammatory disease and primary ovarian insufficiency. You need to discuss your ovarian health with the healthcare consultants to see if you are facing any such issues and seek solutions. Early diagnosis and treatment can be a boon for ovarian care. 

There is another angle detrimental to ovarian health if not overseen on time. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone are produced naturally by the ovaries. They control the periods, reproduction, and other body functions. They can cause issues if not managed. Keep them healthy with a healthy diet, medications, and, if needed, treatments such as hormone therapy. 

Lifestyle changes work for ovarian health. And they are no rocket science. Start with a healthy sleep cycle of seven to eight hours. Your body stays healthy and heals well. Engage in stress-relieving activities such as hobbies and meditation. Managing your weight, blood pressure, and BMI goes a long way in this regard. Choose an exercise routine of your choice, like Yoga or a gym to boost blood flow, improve egg quality, and good hormonal balance. But over-exercising does the opposite as it can create irregular menstrual cycles, fertility issues, and hormonal imbalances.   

The path towards holistic ovarian health can be easy. All it would take is a desire for the same and moving towards that goal with determination.