Supplements
Fertility Vitamins and Supplements
Folic acid or folate
Not only should you take folic acid (or Vitamin B9) during pregnancy, but it has benefits beforehand, too. Studies show that taking it while trying to conceive can increase fertility and improve IVF outcomes, too. Talk to your doctor about the recommended daily dosage before getting pregnant.
Vitamin D
Looking for fertility vitamins for men and women? Here’s one for both. In women, vitamin D stimulates ovarian function, and low levels of vitamin D have been linked to PCOS. If you’re struggling to get pregnant, consult your doctor about testing for vitamin D deficiency.
B-complex vitamins
Notice we’re talking about vitamins, plural—specifically, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 (mentioned above), and B12. Ensuring a higher intake of B vitamins can reduce your chances of tubal infertility. In combination with folic acid, extra B12 has also been known to improve IVF outcomes.
Vitamin E
Because vitamin E works to repair cells, it acts as an anti-aging antioxidant for the ovaries. That characteristic makes it an especially valuable fertility vitamin for women in their later reproductive years. It also supports egg quality—and the better the egg, the better likelihood of a healthy pregnancy.
Multivitamins
If you’d prefer to take a multivitamin, try to find one containing as many of the aforementioned vitamins as possible. As always, ask your doctor for recommendations.
DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a prohormone, meaning it’s a hormone that helps other hormones—like the ones needed to get pregnant.
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) is another excellent fertility supplement for women having kids in their 30s and beyond. It contains powerful antioxidants that help slow age-related changes in the female reproductive system. It’s also thought to help reduce symptoms of PCOS, endometriosis, and irregular cycles.
Iron
Did you know that ovulatory infertility can result from an iron deficiency? Not to mention that at least 8% of Canadian women experience iron deficiency at some point in their lives. Iron supplements are especially essential for vegetarians and vegans, so get on it, stat.
Selenium
A 2019 study suggested selenium supplements boost female fertility by improving the health of the follicular fluid surrounding the eggs. So, adding this to your diet could be helpful if you’re trying to conceive.
Zinc
Another 2019 study found that women with lower levels of zinc could take longer to get pregnant. It’s considered a good fertility supplement for women for assisting with egg development and fertilization.
Inositol
Inositol is rated highly among the best fertility supplements for women. It helps regulate the menstrual cycle and stabilizes blood sugar, making it particularly beneficial to women with PCOS.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another highly-ranked female fertility supplement, thanks to its role in helping balance progesterone and estrogen levels. And since higher magnesium levels are shown to reduce stress and improve sleep, it’ll benefit you once the baby arrives, too.
Probiotics
You know the saying “trust your gut”? It might be because your gut health is crucial to your overall health. A strong immune system is super important if you’re trying to conceive since pregnancy is a state of natural immunosuppression. Prep ahead by starting on a good probiotic before conceiving. (Your belly will thank you later.)
Source: Premamawellness.com
Supplements To Improve Egg Quality
Co-Enzyme-Q-10: 200mg 3x/day. An energy source for mitochondria. May improve ovarian response, oocyte maturation and embryo grade according to this study.
Vitamin C: 1000 mg 3x /day. This antioxidant specifically helps improve nitric oxide which promotes blood flow to the ovaries and uterus and showed a slight increase in pregnancies over the control group in this study.
Vitamin E: 800 IU/day. An antioxidant, Vitamin E boosts overall female reproductive health. Vitamin E can offset oxidative stress and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which negatively affect the female reproductive tract and developing oocytes as well as embryo’s.
Melatonin: 3mg at bedtime: Also an antioxidant that appears to improve egg quality by balancing the intrafollicular oxidative status. It may also improve fertilization rates. One caveat- those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis should avoid using it.
Inositol: 2 tabs/day. Particularly helpful in women with PCOS. It may improve ovulation timing, oocyte and embryo quality. Studies have shown possible improvement when inositol is used along with melatonin.
Source: Doublehappinesshealth.com
