The Best Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs And More, For Infertility In Men And Women

The following is a list of vitamins, herbs and more to help you in your quest to become pregnant.

Prenatal Vitamins

Most women think that taking prenatal vitamins is only something that you do if you are already pregnant. This is simply not true. In fact, if you are considering trying to get pregnant, that is when you should actually begin to take them. Prenatal vitamins help to ensure that your body is receiving enough of the nutrients necessary for supporting a growing fetus.

Red Clover

This herb is quite beneficial to a woman trying to conceive a child because of its high amounts of the minerals, magnesium and calcium. Both of which are incredibly important to the ability of a woman to become pregnant. Red Clover is one of the most effective plants there is, to help balance the hormones that are so needed and vital, for conception to actually happen. This is usually taken by brewing it into a tea.

Maca

This herb is very helpful to both men and women for its fertility properties. It helps to increase both mobility and sperm count for a man, and it aids a woman by increasing her progesterone levels and controlling the estrogen in her body. It is very important that a woman’s estrogen levels are controlled when she is trying to conceive, as levels that are either too high or too low at the wrong time, can prevent her from becoming pregnant or even keep her from carrying a baby to term if she has become pregnant.

Though much has been written throughout history about the beneficial effects of Maca while trying to conceive, very little study has been done on whether or not it is safe to take once you have become pregnant. Due to this, it is most often recommended that you discontinue its use once you think that you have become pregnant.

Magnesium

Although magnesium has important benefits, many of us are actually deficient in this mineral. Some of the benefits of magnesium are also very important to a woman who is trying to conceive and include, helping the body to absorb other necessary and important nutrients and helping to increase fertility in a natural way. If, however, your levels are too low, it can cause infertility by creating spasms in the fallopian tubes, making implantation impossible.

Vitamins B6 and B12

These vitamins are very helpful in aiding a woman to conceive. They are particularly beneficial when taken together. Here are some of the advantages to taking these vitamins.

• Aids in the development of new tissue, which is particularly helpful during ovulation
• Helps to regulate blood sugar
• Helps with Luteal Phase Defect
• Assists with increasing sperm count and improving sperm quality
• Can help decrease morning sickness
• May help to increase the endometrium lining in egg fertilization, which can decrease the possibility of having a miscarriage

There have actually been some studies that have found that having a deficiency of the vitamin B12, can lead to the chance of having irregular ovulation, or in severe cases, even halting ovulation completely.

Stinging Nettle

This herb, which is brewed into a tea, is wonderful for both conception as well as for sustaining the precious embryo once you have actually become pregnant. Its advantages include toning and nourishing of the uterus and also encourages the strengthing of both the adrenal glands and the kidneys. One to two cups per day is what is usually recommended.

CoQ10

This vitamin like supplement, which is also known as Ubiquinol and Ubiquinone, has been studied and found to improve the health of not just a woman’s eggs, but also a man’s sperm. (It is important to note, however, that the Ubiquinol form of this supplement is far superior to the inactive form of it which is the Ubiquinone, and therefore it is recommended that the Ubiquinol be the form you take. In fact, Ubiquinol is 8x times more powerful than Ubiquinone.) It also has the benefit of being a powerful antioxidant, which helps to reduce oxidative stress, which is linked to a number of diseases that are often associated with infertility. These include things such as endometriosis, primary ovarian failure, preterm labor, polycystic ovarian syndrome, recurrent miscarriages and also unexplained issues of infertility.

Zinc

This is a mineral that is advantageous to both men and women, because it also helps to increase fertility naturally. It accomplishes this in women by helping the body to use progesterone and estrogen in a more efficient way, and for men it assists by improving the production of testosterone, which in turn, also helps with sperm count and motility.

Selenium

This is an antioxidant, which is something that can safely interact with free radicals (atoms or groups of atoms that have an unpaired number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen combines with specific molecules, which once formed can begin a dangerous chain reaction) and help to halt the dangerous chromosomal effects that it can cause to cell membranes or DNA, which can then affect a fetus. Selenium is well known for protecting eggs and sperm from free radicals. Some examples of free radicals include: car exhaust, alcohol, hydrogenated oils, and chemical pollution, smoking and excessive exercise.

Vitamin C

Both women and men are in need of this vitamin. It can aid with several problems associated with infertility. They include:

• Helping to increase fertility in women with Luteal Phase Defect
• Improving hormone levels
• Helping to prevent sperm from sticking together, which makes them more mobile
• Helping to protect sperm from DNA damage, which can also help to cut down on chromosomal issues and the chance of miscarriage
• Aids with the improvement of sperm count and viability

Folic Acid

Many are aware that folic acid is one of the best vitamins out there for conception. Not only that, but a deficiency of folic acid can increase your chances of low birth weight, fetal retardation and early delivery. Deficiency of this vitamin can also increase the level of homocysteine in the blood, which can, unfortunately, cause problems such as spontaneous abortion, or issues while a woman is pregnant like, pre-eclampsia or placental abruption. Its advantages are as follows:

• Helps aid in the prevention of congenital heart defects, urinary tract anomalies in developing fetuses, neural tube defects, limb defects and cleft lips
• Is very helpful with increasing fertility in both men and women

It is very worthwhile to continue taking folic acid, even after you have become pregnant and throughout the first few months, in order to help with preventing serious neural defects by a whopping 70%.

Evening Primrose Oil

This is a supplement that is rich, not only in GLA (gamma linolenic acid) and LA, (linolenic acid) both omega-6 essential fatty acids, but also in vitamin E, and is extremely beneficial. It allows a man’s sperm to live for up to 5 days, which gives a woman a better chance at conception, even if sex does not occur again before ovulation begins. It also helps to create a more favorable environment for the sperm to swim freely to the woman’s egg, by increasing her cervical mucus.

Once you have begun ovulation, however, it is best to discontinue using this until you are certain you have not conceived. If you have not, then begin taking it again. The reason for this is because Evening Primrose Oil is thought to have a direct effect on uterine cells. This supplement contracts and relaxes smooth muscle tissue, which in the case of the uterus is actually toning of the uterine muscles in order to prepare them for pregnancy. Therefore, if a woman becomes pregnant, or has been trying to conceive, stopping after you have ovulated is the wisest choice because the uterus could possibly begin to contract which, in some women, could cause miscarriage or pre-term labor. There is very little evidence for this possibility, but it is always best to err on the side of caution.

Vitamin D

This vitamin is essential for the body as it helps the body to create sex hormones, which, of course, then affects both hormonal balance and ovulation.

In a study conducted on 67 infertile women, by the Yale University School of Medicine, it was discovered that only an astonishing 7% actually had normal levels of Vitamin D.

Raspberry Leaf Tea

This tea, (made from wild red raspberry leaves) is helpful for enhancing fertility naturally, as well as being a soothing uterine tonic as well. And is also especially helpful with fertility when combined with the herb, Red Clover.

Fermented Cod Liver Oil

This is recommended for increasing fertility in a natural way by improving the proper hormone production.

Iron

Not receiving enough iron can cause a woman to suffer from anovulation, (a lack of ovulation). In addition, there is the possibility of having poor egg health, which can, unfortunately, prevent a woman from conceiving at a rate of an unbelievable 60% more than women who have an adequate amount in their blood.

Vitamin E

This vitamin is especially advantageous to men as it aids in improving both the health of sperm, as well as the motility. It is also known to protect both eggs and sperm from DNA integrity.

Studies have shown that men, who take Vitamin E for only a few months, can actually see an increase in their fertility by up to 10%.

Here is a list of some food sources that can include a number of these items.

• Vitamin D-Eggs, dairy, cod liver oil, beef, and fatty fishes.
• Magnesium-Green leafy vegetables, brown rice, beans, nuts and whole wheat bread.
• B6-Tuna, turnip and collard greens, banana, liver, turkey, salmon, spinach, bell peppers, broccoli etc.
• B12-Clams, cheese, eggs, caviar, fish, beef, lobster, crab, oysters and lamb.
• CoQ10-Beef, strawberries, cauliflower, pistachios, chicken, peanuts and fish.
• Zinc-Oysters, lamb, yogurt, green peas, beef, sesame seeds, venison and pumpkin seeds.
• Selenium-Liver, cod, shrimp, mushrooms, salmon and turkey.
• Vitamin C-Red peppers, citrus fruits, potatoes, broccoli, cranberries, tomatoes and cabbage.
• Folic Acid-Lentils, asparagus, liver, navy beans, spinach, pinto and black beans.
• Iron-Navy and kidney beans, spinach, lentils, venison, pumpkin seeds and beef.
• Vitamin E-Almonds, dark leafy greens, spinach, olives and sunflower seeds.