Pioneering doctors at Care Fertility in Nottingham, UK, have found that soya oil can help women to get pregnant and avoid miscarriage.
Evidence from Care’s research in humans has found that soya oil suppresses the immune system. In some cases of infertility, the immune system reacts to a pregnancy as if it is a foreign body and causes the woman to miscarry, often before she is even aware she was pregnant. Soya oil can suppress the natural killer cells of the immune system and allow a pregnancy to continue.
The researchers also think that it may help the embryo to implant but they aren’t sure how.
Who Can Have Soya Oil Treatment?
Women who have suffered implantation failure after IVF, those with recurrent miscarriage and elevated natural killer cell activity are good candidates to receive the treatment. If you are allergic to eggs or soya, you shouldn’t have it as it could cause anaphylaxis, so remember to inform your fertility specialist of any allergies before you begin treatment.
How is Soya Oil Treatment Given?
The oil is given via an intravenous drip as this is more effective than oil taken orally. A nurse will come to your home to administer it and the whole procedure takes around two hours. The treatment is much cheaper than other fertility treatments and only costs £200 (approximately $312 Canadian dollars).
Are There Any Side-Effects with Soya Oil Treatment?
Yes. 1 in 100 women have a fever. More rarely than that, there may be shivering, chills or nausea and vomiting, blood pressure changes, abdominal pain, headache and tiredness. Very rarely (less than one in a million) there may be anaphylactic shock, including difficulty breathing, swelling and a raised, bumpy rash. These side-effects are usually seen in patients who are given it as part of a nutritional feed, although using it to treat infertility is a new idea so they won’t have as many cases in infertility patients. Other fertility treatments also have side-effects.
How Can I Get Treatment?
You can’t have treatment if you are trying to conceive naturally or as part of an alternative regime to get pregnant. You have to undergo IVF at Care at the same time and it will be given to enhance your chances of success.
Sources:
- Care Fertility (UK)
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Joanna Karpasea-Jones - I have been a health writer since 1997 when I published my own newsletter, SHOTS. I have written 2 books on childhood health, and write ...
