Investigating the prevailing dietary patterns, physical activity, and nutrient intake affecting fertility in infertile women in an Iranian Setting: A cross-sectional study

Background Infertility affects many women of reproductive age worldwide, and various influencing factors have been identified. This study aimed to determine predominant dietary patterns, physical activity, and nutrient intake affecting fertility among infertile women in Ardabil city in 2024. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 304 infertile women attending infertility centers in Ardabil who met the inclusion criteria and provided written informed consent. Simple random sampling was used. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recall, a 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and anthropometric measurements. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27, with significance set at p  < 0.05. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Cluster Analysis were applied to identify dietary patterns. Results The mean age of participants was 30.62 ± 5.95 years, with most having a diploma-level education. Exploratory factor analysis identified four main factors. Cluster analysis revealed three predominant dietary patterns: healthy, unhealthy, and mixed. There were no significant differences in age, education, weight, BMI, or physical activity METs among the dietary groups, except for height ( p  = 0.005), which was higher in the healthy diet group. Total MET scores differed significantly among the three groups ( p  = 0.032). Significant differences were found in energy intake ( p  = 0.026), carbohydrates ( p  < 0.001), protein ( p  < 0.001), and several micronutrients and vitamins across dietary patterns. Conclusion The findings indicate that a healthy dietary pattern combined with regular physical activity can significantly improve fertility status in infertile women. Therefore, alongside medical treatments, attention to diet and lifestyle is recommended for women facing infertility.