Nutrition for Fertility Flashcards
(12 cards)
Which dietary factor is most closely associated with ovulatory infertility?
A. Omega-3 fatty acids
B. Trans fats
C. Antioxidants
D. Folate
Answer: B. Trans fats
Correct Answer: B. Trans fats – Trans fats are closely linked to ovulatory infertility as they disrupt insulin sensitivity and hormone balance.
A. Omega-3 fatty acids: Beneficial for ovulation and reducing inflammation, not associated with infertility.
C. Antioxidants: Protect gametes from oxidative stress but don’t directly cause infertility.
D. Folate: Supports DNA synthesis and gamete health, unrelated to ovulatory dysfunction.
What is the main mechanism by which antioxidants (e.g., vitamins C and E) support fertility?
A. Reducing inflammation in the uterus
B. Neutralizing oxidative stress that damages gametes
C. Enhancing progesterone production
D. Regulating insulin sensitivity
**Answer: B. Neutralizing oxidative stress that damages gametes
**
Correct Answer: B. Neutralizing oxidative stress that damages gametes – Antioxidants reduce free radicals that harm sperm and oocytes.
A. Reducing inflammation in the uterus: Antioxidants don’t specifically target uterine inflammation.
C. Enhancing progesterone production: Antioxidants don’t directly influence progesterone.
D. Regulating insulin sensitivity: Antioxidants primarily address oxidative stress, not insulin.
What is a potential consequence of excessive physical activity on female fertility?
A. Increased insulin resistance
B. Hypothalamic amenorrhea
C. Improved endometrial receptivity
D. Elevated leptin levels
**Answer: B. Hypothalamic amenorrhea
**
Correct Answer: B. Hypothalamic amenorrhea – Excessive exercise suppresses GnRH, leading to menstrual irregularities.
A. Increased insulin resistance: Excessive physical activity typically improves insulin sensitivity.
C. Improved endometrial receptivity: Moderate exercise can improve receptivity, but excessive exercise hinders ovulation.
D. Elevated leptin levels: Excessive activity reduces leptin levels, not increases them.
Which hormonal disruption occurs in men due to obesity?
A. Reduced conversion of testosterone to estrogen
B. Elevated gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
C. Low testosterone levels due to increased aromatase activity
D. Increased luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion
**Answer: C. Low testosterone levels due to increased aromatase activity
**
Correct Answer: C. Low testosterone levels due to increased aromatase activity – Obesity increases aromatase activity, converting testosterone into estrogen.
A. Reduced conversion of testosterone to estrogen: The opposite is true; obesity increases conversion.
B. Elevated gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): Obesity doesn’t typically elevate GnRH.
D. Increased luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion: LH levels often remain unchanged or decrease in obesity.
Chronic stress disrupts reproductive hormones by increasing which hormone?
A. Estrogen
B. Cortisol
C. Melatonin
D. Progesterone
**Answer: B. Cortisol
**
Correct Answer: B. Cortisol – Chronic stress elevates cortisol, disrupting the HPG axis and reproductive hormones.
A. Estrogen: Stress doesn’t directly increase estrogen levels.
C. Melatonin: Melatonin regulates sleep and isn’t related to stress-induced hormonal disruption.
D. Progesterone: Chronic stress tends to reduce progesterone levels, not increase them.
What effect does smoking have on female fertility?
A. Increases ovarian reserve
B. Enhances estrogen production
C. Damages endometrial receptivity
D. Reduces oxidative stress
**Answer: C. Damages endometrial receptivity
**
Correct Answer: C. Damages endometrial receptivity – Smoking harms the uterine lining, making implantation less likely.
A. Increases ovarian reserve: Smoking reduces ovarian reserve and accelerates follicle loss.
B. Enhances estrogen production: Smoking damages the ovaries, leading to lower estrogen levels.
D. Reduces oxidative stress: Smoking increases oxidative stress rather than reducing it.
Which lifestyle factor directly suppresses gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), impacting ovulation?
A. Poor sleep quality
B. High alcohol intake
C. Excessive physical activity
D. High sugar intake
Answer: C. Excessive physical activity
Correct Answer: C. Excessive physical activity – Over-exercising suppresses GnRH, leading to ovulatory dysfunction.
A. Poor sleep quality: Impacts overall hormone balance but doesn’t directly suppress GnRH.
B. High alcohol intake: Affects hormones like estrogen but doesn’t suppress GnRH directly.
D. High sugar intake: Sugar affects insulin, not GnRH secretion.
How does body weight impact fertility in underweight women?
A. Increases progesterone production
B. Enhances ovarian reserve
C. Reduces gonadotropin levels
D. Increases endometrial receptivity
**Answer: C. Reduces gonadotropin levels
**
Correct Answer: C. Reduces gonadotropin levels – Low body weight disrupts GnRH secretion, reducing FSH and LH levels.
A. Increases progesterone production: Low body weight is often associated with lower progesterone.
B. Enhances ovarian reserve: Being underweight may decrease ovarian reserve.
D. Increases endometrial receptivity: Low body weight often reduces endometrial receptivity.
What is a key mechanism by which environmental toxins such as BPA impair fertility?
A. Inducing oxidative stress
B. Enhancing melatonin production
C. Mimicking or blocking natural hormones
D. Increasing testosterone levels
**Answer: C. Mimicking or blocking natural hormones
**
Correct Answer: C. Mimicking or blocking natural hormones – BPA acts as an endocrine disruptor, mimicking or blocking hormone activity.
A. Inducing oxidative stress: BPA does cause oxidative stress, but hormone disruption is the main mechanism.
B. Enhancing melatonin production: BPA doesn’t increase melatonin.
D. Increasing testosterone levels: BPA primarily disrupts estrogen, not testosterone.
Which of the following best explains the role of oxidative stress in male infertility?
A. Decreased sperm motility and increased DNA damage
B. Enhanced testosterone production
C. Increased GnRH secretion
D. Improved antioxidant reserves
**Answer: A. Decreased sperm motility and increased DNA damage
**
Correct Answer: A. Decreased sperm motility and increased DNA damage – Oxidative stress damages sperm DNA and reduces motility.
B. Enhanced testosterone production: Oxidative stress lowers testosterone.
C. Increased GnRH secretion: Oxidative stress doesn’t directly affect GnRH.
D. Improved antioxidant reserves: Oxidative stress depletes antioxidants, not enhances them.
Why are omega-3 fatty acids beneficial for fertility?
A. They increase insulin resistance.
B. They enhance oocyte quality and reduce inflammation.
C. They mimic natural reproductive hormones.
D. They suppress gonadotropin secretion.
**Answer: B. They enhance oocyte quality and reduce inflammation.
**
Correct Answer: B. They enhance oocyte quality and reduce inflammation – Omega-3s improve egg quality and reduce systemic inflammation.
A. They increase insulin resistance: Omega-3s improve, not impair, insulin sensitivity.
C. They mimic natural reproductive hormones: Omega-3s don’t mimic hormones.
D. They suppress gonadotropin secretion: Omega-3s don’t suppress gonadotropins.
What effect does advanced paternal age have on fertility?
A. Improved sperm morphology
B. Increased DNA fragmentation in sperm
C. Elevated melatonin levels
D. Reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS)
**Answer: B. Increased DNA fragmentation in sperm
**
Correct Answer: B. Increased DNA fragmentation in sperm – Advanced paternal age raises the risk of DNA damage in sperm, impairing fertility. This was from a study on men aged 45+
A. Improved sperm morphology: Paternal age worsens, not improves, sperm morphology.
C. Elevated melatonin levels: Paternal age doesn’t increase melatonin.
D. Reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS): Older age is associated with increased, not reduced, ROS.
