Intersection between Fertility Treatment and Eating Behaviors

Diana Davidson* and Elizabeth Claydon,

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation Category: Health Sciences (Poster Presentation #117)

Student’s Major: Sociology

Lifestyle choices that individuals undertake have a consequential effect on human reproduction. Infertility clinics are more likely to treat women with past or current eating disorder history. Women with a severe eating disorder often suffer from anovulatory infertility, absence of ovulation, as compared to other forms of infertility. The relevancy of parents’ contribution to successful conception through in vitro fertilization has been neglected to be researched in the realm of public health. The purpose of the study is to better understand the intersection between intro vitro fertilization treatment and nutritional guidance and eating behaviors. The research is conducted through qualitative data by interviewing women either through telephone or via zoom to ask questions about the nutritional guidance they have received and/or follow, the success of how the diet has been for them, and overall reaction to how the diet made them feel. Thematic analysis will be used to uncover major and micro subthemes among the transcripts. It is predicted the results will show themes of patterns between eating habits and nutrition chosen for the sake of fertility. The results will show that there is a need for women to be referred to dieticians during the IVF treatment process so they can be provided guidance on proper nutrition to follow and knowledge about what they can do to support the success of their fertility.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course