Glossary Find a Fertility Specialist

Your diet can affect IVF outcomes

A total of 12% of all infertility cases are due to weighing too little or too much.a

One of the easiest ways to determine if you are underweight or overweight is to calculate your body mass index (BMI). You can use this BMI calculator from the National Institutes of Health website to determine your BMI.

BMI<19

Underweight

BMI19-24

Normal

BMI25-29

Overweight

BMI>30

Obese

Weight can affect fertility in many ways:

  • Underweight women may be affected by irregular menstrual cycles or stop ovulating completely
  • Obese women
    • May also have irregular menstrual cycles and ovulation
    • With normal ovulation cycles still have lower pregnancy rates than normal-weight women
    • Have lower success rates with IVF than normal-weight women
    • Have shown lower pregnancy rates and higher miscarriage rates
    • Are at an increased risk of developing pregnancy-induced (gestational) diabetes and high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia)
    • Have a higher chance of delivering by cesarean section
    • Have children with an increased risk of some birth defects and high birth weight

If you are considered underweight or obese, consult with a healthcare provider.

A healthy diet to support fertility

Eating the right foods is essential to optimizing reproductive potential. A balanced diet is rich in quality protein and low in sugar, salt, caffeine, and trans fats (trans-fatty acids or partially hydrogenated oils); uncontaminated by heavy metals; and free of nicotine, alcohol, and recreational drugs.

It is also recommended to eat foods high in monounsaturated fat, as they are associated with higher odds of live birth.

Always be sure to follow your doctor’s advice first and to consult with him or her before making changes to your diet.

Vitamins and your fertility

In addition to a healthy diet, taking prenatal vitamins and folic acid are recommended for optimal fertility health. Always talk to your doctor before you take any medicines, herbs, or vitamins.

Talk with your healthcare provider about what kind of prenatal vitamins you should take.

Ask how much folic acid you should take before you get pregnant and during the first part of your pregnancy. Folic acid helps prevent birth defects in the baby’s brain and spine.

You can find prenatal vitamins and folic acid supplements at any pharmacy. In addition to these supplements, you should also increase your folic acid intake by eating leafy green vegetables, fruits, beans, peas, some whole-grain cereals, and nuts.

aData from ASRM.org.
bData from NIH.gov.

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Eligibility Information
The Bloom box is available for eligible patients* that purchase 30 or more vials of MENOPUR and 42 inserts of ENDOMETRIN as part of their IVF protocol. Available for purchases made after January 8, 2018. Limit one Bloom box per patient.  

*The Bloom box is not available for prescriptions that are reimbursed in whole or in part by Medicare, Medicaid, federal or state programs (including any state prescription drug program) or any qualified health plan purchased through a health insurance exchange established by a state government or the federal government. Bloom box is not available for residents of the state of Massachusetts. Ferring reserves the right to rescind, revoke, or modify the program at any time.

MENOPUR® (menotropins for injection)

Indication

MENOPUR® (menotropins for injection) is a prescription medicine that contains hormones. MENOPUR contains follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone activity. These hormones stimulate healthy ovaries to make eggs. MENOPUR is used for women who need medical help to get pregnant. Your doctor may prescribe more than one medicine as part of a pregnancy plan.

Important Safety Information

Do not use MENOPUR if you: have ovaries that are not able to make eggs even with the use of hormones, are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, have problems with your thyroid gland or adrenal gland that are not controlled by taking medicine, have tumors in your female organs (including breasts), have a tumor of your pituitary gland or any other tumor in your brain, or have heavy or irregular vaginal bleeding and the cause is not known. Do not use MENOPUR if you have a known previous allergic reaction to these medications.

  • MENOPUR may cause serious side effects. They sometimes stimulate the ovaries too much. This is called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and can be a serious medical problem. OHSS may cause pelvic pain or breathing problems, or it may make you urinate less. In rare cases, patients with this problem have had serious lung problems. MENOPUR can also cause blood clots and strokes. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have: severe pelvic pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden weight gain, trouble breathing, or decreased or no urination.
  • MENOPUR may cause pregnancies with twins or more than two babies at the same time, miscarriages, birth defects, and pregnancies located outside the uterus.
  • Do not use MENOPUR if you are nursing.
  • The most common side effects with MENOPUR are headache, stomach pain, and upset stomach. Sometimes there is an injection-site reaction that can cause bruising, pain, or redness.

These are not all the side effects of MENOPUR. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.  Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bothers you or that does not go away. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

ENDOMETRIN® (progesterone) vaginal insert

Indication

ENDOMETRIN® (progesterone) is a vaginal insert that contains the hormone progesterone, one of the hormones essential for helping you to become and to stay pregnant. ENDOMETRIN is for women who need extra progesterone while undergoing treatment in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program.

Important Safety Information

Do not use ENDOMETRIN if you:

  • Are allergic to anything in ENDOMETRIN
  • Have unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been evaluated by a doctor
  • Currently have or have had liver problems
  • Have or have had blood clots in the legs, lung, eyes, or elsewhere in your body

Common side effects seen with ART and ENDOMETRIN include pelvic pain after surgery, abdominal pain, nausea, and swollen ovaries (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome). Other reported side effects include abdominal bloating, headache, urinary infections, uterine cramping, constipation, vomiting, tiredness and vaginal bleeding. Vaginal products with progesterone may also cause vaginal irritation, burning and discharge.

Progesterone can increase your chance of getting blood clots. Blood clots can be serious and lead to death. Serious blood clots include those in the: legs, lungs, eyes, heart, and brain.

Call your doctor and get medical help right away if you have; Persistent lower leg pain, sudden shortness of breath, coughing up blood, sudden blindness (partial or complete), severe chest pain, sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, or fainting, weakness in an arm or leg, or trouble speaking, yellowing of the skin and/or white of the eyes indicating possible liver problems.

Other risks of progesterone include: Headache, breast tenderness, bloating or fluid retention, mood swings and depression, irritability and drowsiness.

Call your doctor immediately if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding.

These are not all the side effects with ENDOMETRIN. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bothers you or that does not go away. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for MENOPUR and ENDOMETRIN.