Soy is one of the hottest topics of debate in the health food world today. Why all the differing opinions? Is soy healthy and should we be consuming it like the next magical panacea? And, how important is it in relation to fertility and getting pregnant?
Soy beans have been used to make everything from milk, cereal, and baby formula to burgers and butter. I wonder if most people even know what a real soy bean looks like.
When soy beans are made into these wide range of products it becomes a denatured, processed food. But that is not even the worst of it. There are so many studies out (bottom of article) that show soy is not a healthy food, they show it may in fact be dangerous...AND that it could negatively affect fertility.
See what Dr. Mercola has to say about soy
I use to eat soy every day!
To give you a little background on my relationship with soy I have to let you know, I drank soy milk daily for four or five years. I ate veggie patties, cheese, yogurts, cereals, “food” bars, and protein powder! Whew, what else is there for a lazy vegetarian to eat?
I thought it was the best and healthiest thing I could eat. That is until I started to realize how processed those products were. I than began more research (yes, I do this for fun;)) and I began to learn about hormones and the possible problems soy could cause.
I immediately took our family off of soy; me, husband and dog.
In my research this is one of the studies I found:
Study:
Exposure to genistein during gestation and lactation demasculinizes the reproductive system in rats.
The male offspring were thus exposed to genistein indirectly through maternal consumption during pregnancy and lactation. Male offspring of mothers on the high-genistein diet exhibited reproductive abnormalities and rats exposed to both the low- and high-genistein diets had shorter testes length, larger prostate mass and lower testosterone concentrations.
The researchers also looked at adult sexual behavior of male offspring. Those exposed to both low and high doses of genistein were less likely to ejaculate after mounting female rats. What this means is that pregnant and nursing mothers should avoid all soy as even a low-dose exposure to genistein caused subtle but significant changes in sexual behavior in male offspring.
Journal of Urology, April 2003 169:1582-1586.
There are so many systems that are affected by consuming soy, especially when we are pregnant.
The phytoestrogens found in soy have been shown to interfere with:
Processed soy foods also have large amounts of aluminum from the high pressure processing system which it’s toxic to the nervous system and has been questioned in harming fertility. Well I could go on and on with more studies and negative results of ingesting soy during pregnancy or any other time in life, but I support you doing your own research to come to your own conclusions. As I am biased, I want everyone to be as healthy and happy as they can so all of my studies and research will lean that direction.
What would be good to eat to boost fertility that does not include soy products or any other products that are harmful to my reproductive system?
The Natural Fertility Diet.
Soy Resources:
1. North K and Golding J. A maternal vegetarian diet in pregnancy is associated with hypospadias. The ALSPAC Study Team. Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. BJU Int 2000 Jan;85(1):107-113. Vegetarian women are more likely consume more soy than the general population. Incidence of hypospadias was twice as great in vegetarian mothers as in non-vegetarian mothers. Hypospadias is a birth defect due to interrupted development of the penis.
2. A high estrogenic environment in utero may increase subsequent breast cancer risk. It was therefore determined whether a maternal exposure during pregnancy to the phytoestrogen genistein, which exhibit estrogenic activities in vitro and in vivo, alters breast cancer risk among female offspring. The results indicate that in utero exposure to genistein, dose-dependently increased the incidence of breast tumors, when compared with the controls. The number of estrogen receptor binding sites was significantly elevated in the mammary glands of genistein offspring. Oncol Rep 1999 Sep-Oct;6(5):1089-95
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, I have been reading all of the information on how unhealthy soy products are for females ttc but also for people in general. I have a dairy allergy and so does my daughter so we have been drinking nothing but soy milk. What is another product that we can use for milk instead of dairy or soy? Thanks,
Hi Emily,
Depending on how old your daughter is you can look into learning about Rice milk, almond milk or hemp milk.
Best wishes,
Dalene
good day madame,
we like soy so much, but when i read about how harm it is, it really upsets me, because were using a soy sauce for our food, savory etc., its a part of our life already, it does affect also? if were using soy sauce? or as long that theres soy sauce ingridients?
Hi Tatum,
Soy sauce is usually fermented, so it should be alright for your fertility. Soy sauce is part of many cultures diets, don’t worry too much.
All the best,
Dalene
Hi,
I have been reading all the information on how unhealty soy products for lady.
But i taking soya milk powder every morning breakfast. Its is ok for me to countinueing if i planning for ivf…
Thanks
Joyce
Hi Joyce,
That decision is up to you. We can only inform you of evidence based facts that processed soy products may effect your fertility. Whether you decide to consume them is up to you. It is proven that soy has the propensity to mimic estrogen in the body. Without knowing what your fertility challenges are there is not way for me to know if soy is a good option for you. If you have high estrogen levels it may not be a good choice.
Best Wishes,
Dalene
Hello,
After reading all these comments, I would like to know if I can assume that is safe for me to drink soy milk and protein shakes, because I have lower than normal estrogen levels?
Thanks very much!
Hi!
I’ve been doing elimination of different food groups in my diet and I’m considering doing soy next since it is in so many products like our favorites- chocolate and bread. I can avoid chocolate no prob, but what about bread? It’s almost impossible to find bread without soy. I know I hate rice bread. Are there any other alternatives?
Also, what about organic soy milk? Is it less processed than most?
Thanks!
Hi Mercedes,
It is up to you to decide if drinking soy milk is safe for you. We cannot decide that for you. If you have low estrogen levels you may want to look into learning about increasing your estrogen levels with herbs like licorice rt. or redclover instead of choosing soy.
Best Wishes,
Dalene
Hi Rachel,
You could make your own bread. You’re probably going to have to read labels. Have you tried Spelt bread or sourdough? It really is about being smart about your choices and your reasons for wanting to cut out soy.
I cannot say if soy milk is less processed, than what? I would say soy flour in a good wholefood bread is less processed than soy milk. The most dangerous soy products may be soy cheese and textured vegetable protein (tvp), foods along those lines are very processed.
All the best,
Dalene
Hi am Kavitha
I am trying to conceive for more than 2 years without success.
I am diagnosed with left tube block (HSG) and hypothyroidisim.
I dont know what soy processed food i was eating because i never minded.Now after reading those issues over fertily the soy food does,i am sacred that i got these problem in my system because i was consuming Soybean oil, as cooking oil for more than 3 years.
Please answer my question if i am wrong or right.
Hi Kavitha,
This article on soy is meant to be for informational purposes so that you as a consumer can work toward making informed decisions. There is no way for me to say whether or not you consuming soybean oil for 3 years may have caused your fertility issues. Blocked Fallopian tubes are usually not caused by hormonal imbalance which soy products have been linked to. But if your tube became blocked because of scar tissue from endometriosis, ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids then you may have hormonal imbalance. Often times diet may play a role in hyperthyroidism. Please talk to your doctor about this.
All the best,
Dalene
I am curious if it’s okay and good for you to eat edamame (plain soybeans) that are unprocessed. Thank you!
Dear Baer,
Eating plain soybeans and fermented soy is best in comparison to processed soy products. Examples of fermented soy are tofu, soy sauce and tempeh.
All the best,
Dalene
Hi,
What was the best food should I eat so that my fertility will increase.
Please answer my question.
Hi Jinnelo,
There is no one food that is going to increase your fertility. Eating a variety of whole foods that are nutrient dense is best. If you would like to learn more about a Nutrient Dense Fertility Diet please go to this link: http://natural-fertility-info.com/fertility-diet
Have a good day,
Dalene
Please doctor i use soy beans as part of the ingredients i use in preparing my son’s food, is it also dangerous to his health? he is fourteen months old. pls i really need to know to be sure that in not making a mistake
Hi Salma,
We are not doctors we are herbalists. There are many other beans out there, if you are just only using soy beans everyday for your son’s food you may want to try some others out. Pinto, black, garbanzo, kidney, lentils. Just some ideas! Soy beans are fine in moderation.
Best Wishes,
Dalene
Hi I am a man of 32 yrs .I took soy protein(Nutrilite) every morning with water(arnd 5gms)initially for 4 months than stopped for a while and now took it for another 2 and half months . I felt good initially but the second time when I started taking it my health deteriorated from normal.I have a average body structure and Instead of improving muscles my body fat content decreased further.Now after knowing the reports I have stopped taking it. Will everything be alright with my thyroid and fertility or the effects would be permanent? Will sperm count and testosterone level return to normal?Plz doctor let me know abt this as I am afraid?Do I reqire any medication.
Hi Babu,
If you are very concerned about how this drink supplement may have effected your fertility you may want to see a doctor and get your hormone levels tested as well as get a full check-up to make sure your body is recovering from your deteriorated health. Your health may increase again through a wholefood nutrient dense diet and good wholefood multivitamin as well as some herbs and supplements. You may also want to learn about Fertility Cleansing for Men.
You can also learn about the best natural remedies to boost overall men’s fertility and sperm health and count while reducing excess estrogen at this link: http://natural-fertility-info.com/mens-fertility
Best wishes,
Dalene
After reading your article, I decided to read the label on my vitamins. I have noticed that the R.L. prenatal one vitamins label I’m taking says “contains soy lecithin in the vegetable glaze.” Should I be concerned about this amount? This is the only soy I consume other than soybeans on occasion, but I will begin to read the labels on everything more closely.
yes the result of this studies is not wrong. however there ways to get about that, which have been scientifically proven to be effective. in nigeria, we produce our home made soy milk by first, parboiling it for 30mins; after that, we soak it in an uncovered container overnight; then we wash off the back, which is peeling of already; then it is time for the soy beans to be grounded; after grinding, we add enough water and sieve it to separate the milk and the chaff. then the millk is boiled again (for at least, 10 mins from boiling point)to sterilise it in case of contamination while processing; sweetners and flavours can be added at this point, if one so desires. ur soy milk is ready for the taking. the benefit of this is that the process removes the toxins, while not ‘de-naturalising’ the soy. it may take some time but it is worth the while. so i encourage all lovers of soy, who have access to the beans to try this as it is perfectly safe and healthy. keep up the good and best wishes.
Katharine,
Soy lecithin is a necessary ingredient for many products; it is used as an emulsifier. It is in very trace amounts and should not affect you much.
All the best,
Dalene
Hi Amara,
Thank you for sharing your interesting story on how to make soy milk at home.
Warmly,
Dalene
I started royal jelly for 3 weeks and cereals with milk for two weeks and with soy milk for a week.however,I got my period late for several days and got extremely heavy bleeding with clots during two hours on day 2.I almost cannot leave the toilet. After that two hours, it became very light flow as if it’s going to end. I am wondering if it’s royal jelly and soy milk causing heavy period with lots of clots. Should I stop both?
Hi MC,
Have you experienced heavy periods before? Only eating soy milk with cereal for a week should not really affect your bleeding time or the lining of your uterus. I have never heard of Royal Jelly supplementation causing extreme heavy bleeding during the menstrual cycle before. I am not sure. If you think they may have played a role, it is always best to stop them and see if there is a change. If you would like to learn more about heavy menstrual cycles please go to this link: http://natural-fertility-info.com/heavy-menstrual-bleeding.html
If you are very concerned please contact your doctor.
Best Wishes,
Dalene
HI, I’ve been considering taking soy isoflavones on cd 3-7 to help me ovulate, I have PCOS and this is my first month using NPC and i wanted something to help me ovulate and I read if you take soy isoflavones on cd 3-7 or 5-9 it will work like Clomid and induce ovulation. what do you think? Is there anything else that I can use to help me ovulate? I took vitex for 4 months straight and it did absolutely nothing for me I didn’t even get a period in those 4months. I was taking 500mg in the morning and night in pill form. please any advise? thanks!
Hi Jessica,
-From Fertility Herbs and Supplements Q&A
Honestly I have never had a woman say that she had really positive results using soy isoflavones this way. I find that most women end up creating more hormonal imbalance in the body. Once this happens you are back tracking; trying to figure out how to balance hormones even more than before. Vitex takes at least 6-12 months to be effective. I think most women give up on it too soon. I know that when you are wanting a baby it can seem like forever to have to use an herb for months to a year, but this is how vitex works, slowly over time, through consistent use. Do you also follow a PCOS specific diet, if not that is going to make a huge impact on your health. If you are wanting to know the best way to use NPC for PCOS please review our Progesterone Fertility Guide! Because of the way soy products are produced, marketed and sold, we feel that soy products in the diet or through isoflavone supplements contain concentrated forms of phytoestrogens, which may lead to estrogen dominance, exacerbating estrogen dominant conditions like PCOS.
8 great steps to reducing PCOS:
1. Balance your daily protein with equal amount carbohydrates
2. Eat low glycemic index foods
3. Eat a diet high in fiber
4. Eat 5 meals a day
5. Eat essential fatty acids daily
6. Exercise 30 min. 5 days a week
7. Eat Organic
8. Quit Coffee
Best Wishes,
Dalene
Hi, I’m 18 years old and I started drinking soy milk everyday since the end of summer 2011 due to a low protein level. I was getting my period normally as well, however after my period in october I never got it again. Could it be due toto the fact that I have been drinking soy milk?
Thank you!
Hi Simi,
It may have contributed to an irregular menstrual cycle or not. There is just no way for me to know. Please consider not drinking soymilk. Switch to almond, oat, hemp or cashew milk instead. If you are concerned, please consider seeing your gynecologist.
Best Wishes,
Dalene