So, Do I Need to Ditch the Soy?
Because that would suck.
Not a big fan of tofu so that’s no big deal, but in this non-milk drinking household, my organic vanilla soy milk is my morning delight. The yum in my cereal. The smooth in my smoothies. Could I live without it? Sure. But I’d rather not.
What’s she on about?
Well, this is actually something I’ve been thinking about for a while - soy and my fertility. And your fertility. Our fertility. Is ingesting too much soy somehow causing a problem?
I recall reading a blog post way back when where the author pretty much poo poo’ed newbies to the IVF game (which I was at the time) saying things like, of course you’re not going to get pregnant if you keep smoking and drinking and eating soy….
I had no idea soy was in the axis of evil. Comparable to puffing on a big Cuban cigar or downing shots of tequila before your PIO shot or taking your basal temperature. Did you?
An article in today’s Pararmus Post says relax, it’s not:
Does soy reduce fertility?
Not so far as we know, say most nutritionists, physicians and researchers. They point to Asian populations where there are no such fertility problems. Still, a recent Harvard study found that men who eat approximately half a serving of soy did experience a reduced sperm count. But many studies have found no conclusive evidence that soy causes fertility problems in humans although there have been some issues in animal studies. Soy does have phytoestrogen, a plant form of the female hormone estrogen, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says it is not worried about the hormonal effects on children.
Of course, not everyone agrees that soy’s effects are harmless.
In the soy kills sperm (and does other nasty things) camp:
In the soy is joy camp:
- Soy Quick (makers of soy milk makers). their article is entitled, “Your Fertility Friend - Soy” awwww….
- WebMD
In the hmmm….I’m really not sure camp
- YourTotalHealth (a part of iVillage)
- and, um, me
What about you? Where are you camping tonight? Are you going to limit your soy intake while you are trying to conceive?
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POSTED IN: IVF, Uncategorized, environment, fertility boosts?, humor, infertility treatments, living with infertility, research
4 opinions for So, Do I Need to Ditch the Soy?
Mrs. Impatient
Jun 26, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I’ve limited my soy intake for about a year or so now. I figured I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Can’t say it’s helped any, lol.
luna
Jun 27, 2008 at 3:01 am
I stopped drinking soy because it promotes estrogen growth, which is bad for fibroids. my hub was using soy protein but stopped when he was trying to increase his count.
seems there’s always contradictory studies. I think a little can’t hurt you, especially if it’s organic (and not loaded with chemicals that can attach to estrogen receptors in the body). the problem is, soy is in about everything!
Soy Guy
Jul 4, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I am a vegan 60 and just fathered a child with a 42 year old. I eat tofu weekly, dringk soy milk and love tofuti frozen desert. I wish soy reduced fertility!!!
Equanimity
Jul 25, 2008 at 12:15 am
Please…take with caution what’s on the news. Watch “Supersize me” and read “The China Study”. High animal protein intake is linked with high estrogen levels which influences the count, not soy.
The study was done with many overweight and obese patients whose estrogen levels are already very high. The study was not a control study and the 99 men studied is not a very large number, as well as there is no consideration of their other food intake, drugs, etc.
Please take a moment to check out the following article. You may be surprised.
http://www.vegtaste.com/main/posting.php?articleId=227
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