By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Mar 26 2026 Could your diet before conception shape fertility and early development? New research reveals sex-specific links between ultraprocessed foods, reduced fertility in men, and subtle changes in early embryonic growth. Study: Periconceptional ultra-processed food consumption in women and men, fertility, and early embryonic development. Image credit: Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com Ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption is linked to poor