INTRODUCTION AND PREVALENCE According to the World Health Organization - the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (WHO-ICMART) glossary infertility is defined as a failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.1Sexual and reproductive health. Available from: http://www.who.int reproductivehealth/topics/infertility/definitions/en/ [Accessed on 24th May 2017] Infertility varies across regions of the world and is estimated to affect 8 to 12% of couples worldwide. The WHO estimates of primary infertility in India are 3.9% (age-standardised to 25-49 years) and 16.8% (age-standardised to 15-49 years), using the “age but no birth” definition. Estimates of infertility vary widely among Indian states from 3.7% in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, 5% in Andhra Pradesh and 15% in Kashmir.2Adamson PC, Krupp K, Freeman AH, et al. Prevalence and correlates of primary infertility among young women in Mysore, India. Indian J Med Res. 2011;134(4): 440–446 The fertility…
INTRODUCTION Until birth mother is the source of all the molecular elements that help to regulate growth and development of the embryo and foetus.1Musumeci G, Castrogiovanni P, Trovato FM, et al. Pregnancy, embryo-fetal development and nutrition: physiology around fetal programming. J Histol Histopathol. 2015; 2:1. http://dx.doi.org/10.7243/2055-091X-2-1 Pregnancy is a time which provides a unique opportunity to influence the long term health of the infant and mother.2Luton D, Alberti C, Vuillard E, et al. Iodine Deficiency in Northern Paris Area: Impact on Fetal Thyroid Mensuration. PLoS ONE. 2011; 6(2): e14707. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0014707 The growth and potential development of the foetus depends on maternal nutrition at conception and during pregnancy which contributes to the maturity of a healthy baby. Nutrition during pregnancy effects not only foetal development, but also the risk of chronic diseases for that infant in adulthood.3Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Clinical Practice Guideline Nutrition…
