What do you think about soy?

[MrsSlocombe]

I stopped consuming soy (other than occasionally shoyu, or lecithin in a prepared food) after trying unsuccessfully to conceive for almost two years.  By this time, I was also taking Clomid, so it's probably the drug that worked, but I have to say, I was pregnant after my sixth try with Clomid, just a couple of months after I stopped the soy.

I can't be sure that soy was the problem at all.  My reason for quitting was that I had read that genistein, found in all soy products and especially available in tempeh (which I had spent so long thinking was more healthful than tofu), can stop the egg from accepting the sperm.  Since we knew we had eggs and sperm, and didn't know why they weren't getting together, this seemed like a possible cause.  Now, I am still not eating soy, even though I am already pregnant, because I figure that anything that might have prevented me from conceiving can't be healthful for me or the baby.

What do you think?  Did you eat much soy before you became pregnant, either right before or for years before?  Did you have any trouble conceiving?  Do you eat soy now, and are you concerned about the hormonal effects?

[catnip]

I ate lots, I mean LOTS of soy, a great deal of it the super processed super concentrated kinds, in the year leading up to getting pregnant, and while I was pregnant.

At this point, I limit my consumption of conventional soy, and of processed meat analogues (most of which are not organic)  to maybe once a month on average, but I eat tofu, tempeh, edamame, miso, and/or soymilk on a daily basis and so does my perfectly healthy six year-old.

I don't think soy is a problem for most people, but if it causes you problems, then don't eat it!

[ShadowMoon]

I don't actively limit soy and never have. We're a vegan family and consume soy foods such as milks, tempeh, tofu, etc. We eat a variety of foods and stay away from processed foods as much as possible.

I had no trouble conceiving and a had a very easy pregnancy. I consumed plenty of soy products during this time. Though just because it didn't cause me any problems doesn't mean it's fine for everyone. If you feel like it's an issue then it very well may be. Just be conscience of it and try to eat a variety of unprocessed foods which should help limit your intake soy right off the bat.

[MrsSlocombe]

Thanks for the responses so far.  I severely limited processed soy (that is, isolated soy protein) years ago;  I was just eating tempeh and tofu during the time I was trying to conceive, along with an occasional soy latte (though we use almond milk at home).  We are still researching this issue, and I would like to start eating at least tofu again.  It's good to know that others have consumed soy without problems.