T
he importance of the genetic health of both eggs and sperm at the time of fertilisation has long been recognised, and there has been an increasing understanding of the importance of the environment before and around the time of conception. The mum-to-be's environment can permanently change the function of a gene, influencing, for example, immunity and the risk of cancer in her child. Diet and nutrition are likely to play a role in this. While a baby's genes are inherited directly from its parents, how these genes express themselves is controlled through epigenetic changes to the DNA. The most commonly studied epigenetic changes researched are chemical marks called "methylation", which are placed on the genes and changes in methylation can often prevent expression of certain genes. Because methylation requires a defined set of nutrients, a mother's nutrition and diet before and during pregnancy can affect the setting of these changes, thus affecting the baby's gene function permanently. A mother's risk of miscarriage and the chance of having a baby with a chromosome abnormality such as Down syndrome increases when the mum is older than 35 and here in New Zealand, there's been a significant increase in the number of women having babies in their mid- to late-30s – yet the best chance of becoming pregnant is when a woman is in her mid-20s through to early 30s.
MELATONIN AND FERTILITY New research suggests that melatonin plays an important role in several physiological processes, including fertility. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. Recent studies indicate that healthy melatonin levels are necessary for optimal fertility, and that melatonin acts as an antioxidant in the ovaries, removing free radicals and preventing cellular damage. There is some evidence that melatonin improves embryo quality, presumably by improving egg genetic health. There was also some evidence of improved pregnancy rates if the woman takes a melatonin supplement during her cycle of IVF.
20
Pregnancy BUMP & baby
A good egg (and sperm) When you're trying to conceive, many factors are important, including the genetic health of your eggs and your partner's sperm. Dr Guy Gudex, fertility expert and Medical Director at Repromed, tells of advances in genetic testing techniques and how they apply to preconception and pregnancy.
