Because fasting may negatively affect a woman's hormones, there are related concerns about fertility. Some medical experts think that a woman's body may see fasting as a danger of impending starvation. As a result of this, they think the body inhibits ovulation since there wouldn't be enough nutrients to sustain a growing fetus.

However, there are other doctors, like Felice Gersh, M.D., who have opposing views. Gersh says, "Based on what we know now, my prediction is that short periods of fasting will actually enhance fertility."

So, who's right? Once again, the science isn't totally clearand most of the research has been done on animal models, instead of humans.

In one study, researchers looked at how three months of intermittent fasting affected female rats. They found that the rats not only lost 19% of their body weight, but they also had significant changes in their reproductive hormones. LH and kisspeptin levels went down, while estradiol levels went up.

However, another review looked at intermittent fasting in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOSa condition with infertility as one of its hallmark symptoms. The researchers hypothesized that intermittent fasting could actually improve fertility in women with PCOS by reducing levels of glucose, insulin, IGF-1, and IGFBP1.

According to the report, women with PCOS tend to have increased expression of IGF-1 and IGFBP1, two hormones that affect insulin production. When insulin levels get high, it triggers the body to make more androgen hormones, like testosterone, which makes it harder to get pregnant. On the other hand, when insulin levels go down, it can improve ovarian function.

Another study added on to this, concluding that short-term calorie restriction could actually increase LH levels in women with PCOS while simultaneously decreasing glucose, insulin, leptin, and testosterone.

Read more here:
Is Intermittent Fasting Safe For Women? All Your Questions Answered - mindbodygreen.com

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