You’ve probably heard about the blood-type diet for weight loss – but it’s likely never crossed your mind that being an O versus a B could affect your ability to get pregnant, right? A study out of Yale University, published in the journal Human Reproduction, examined this very question: Whether blood type was relevant to ovarian reserve, or the number and quality of eggs a woman has.
The researchers looked at 544 women having fertility treatment and measured their serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to determine their ovarian reserve. After making adjustments for accuracy, the scientists found that “patients with blood type O were twice as likely” to have higher FSH levels and lower ovarian reserve compared to women with A or AB blood type. “The A blood group,” they concluded, “appears to be protective for ovarian reserve.” O blood type is the most common blood type.
Obviously, there’s no way anyone can change their blood type, and it’s important to note that the women being studied were being treated for fertility issues, so the author of the study noted that the findings don’t apply to the general population, reported the Independent, a UK newspaper. Rather, high FSH levels in young women could be a signal to get your fertility checked out sooner rather than later.
Have you had your ovarian reserve tested?
