Fasting During Ramadan: A Golden Opportunity to Improve Reproductive Health and Fertility Programs
Fasting during Ramadan is no longer seen merely as a spiritual practice but also holds significant potential in supporting reproductive health. For couples undergoing fertility programs, a healthy lifestyle during Ramadan, when managed properly, can be a contributing factor to successful conception.
Ganot Sumulyo, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition at IPB University, explains that fasting is closely related to the balance of reproductive hormones and the function of vital organs such as the ovaries. Physiologically, fasting can help balance estrogen and progesterone hormones and support a healthier ovulation process through reduced insulin resistance. This offers new hope for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
“Fasting, especially intermittent fasting or Ramadan fasting, can provide significant benefits for people with PCOS, such as helping to improve insulin sensitivity so that insulin levels in the blood become more stable,” Ganot explained. He added that high insulin levels often trigger the ovaries to produce excessive amounts of androgen or testosterone. This often exacerbates PCOS symptoms and disrupts ovulation.
“Fasting can also lower levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and androgen, and help balance estrogen and progesterone hormones, which can improve menstrual cycles and support more regular ovulation,” he said. Not only for women, fasting also has a positive impact on men’s reproductive health, especially for those who have obesity, insulin resistance, or low testosterone levels.
However, Ganot emphasized that the key to success lies in maintaining adequate nutrition. “It is important to maintain intake of protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients such as zinc and vitamin D during fasting,” he said. To support the success of fertility programs, Ganot provides guidelines for a healthy diet. He suggests consuming high-quality protein such as lean meat, fatty fish, eggs, tofu, and tempeh. In addition, intake of healthy fats from omega-3, extra virgin olive oil, and avocados, as well as complex carbohydrates such as oats, quinoa, and brown rice, is highly recommended.
People are also advised to consume vegetables, fruits rich in antioxidants, and fermented products such as yogurt and kefir. On the other hand, couples undergoing fertility programs need to limit foods high in fat and sugar. “Fatty foods such as fried foods, excess sugar, and foods with a high glycemic index should be avoided because they can reduce sperm quality,” he said. Finally, for men who have problems with sperm quality, he reminded the importance of avoiding smoking, alcohol, grilled food, and chronic stress.
By maintaining an ideal weight and paying attention to nutritional intake during Ramadan, couples are expected to optimize their fertility potential.