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When it comes to growing your family, there’s lots of advice out there about ways to boost your fertility to make it easier to get pregnant. With all that advice out there, if can be hard to separate fact from fiction and to determine what tricks and tips are actually worth your time and money.
Given that the majority of Americans use dietary supplements, more and more women who hope to get pregnant are investigating whether fertility vitamins can increase their chances of getting pregnant. While many products might make claims, are there actually fertility vitamins that can improve the chances of getting pregnant in generally healthy women? According to some experts and recent research, the answer may be yes, but it’s worth looking a little closer before adding fertility vitamins to your daily to-do list.
How do fertility vitamins help?
Vitamin supplements generally work by filling in the gaps in your diet and ensuring that you aren’t missing key nutrients and minerals. While having a diet that includes a wide variety of nutritious foods is ideal, adding in vitamins that improve your overall health can also improve your chances of getting pregnant.
“Vitamins that promise to increase your fertility can work for women who do not have other causes for infertility. Depending on the type of vitamin, it can help promote ovarian function, help reduce stress on cells, and promote overall wellness,” notes Dr. Lakeisha Richards, an OB-GYN and professor practicing in Mississippi.
Some fertility vitamins, including FertilityBlend, appear to be effective because their blends include zinc, which research suggests plays an important role in egg development and fertilization.
What does science say?
Scientific researchers note that the preconception health of both men and women is not only important for them but also for the lifelong health of their children. While there is general consensus that a healthy diet for both parents is beneficial to improving the odds of getting pregnant as well as the health of the future child, the jury is still out on many of the fertility vitamins and supplements that are promoted as fertility aids. There is some evidence that supports the effectiveness of acetyl-L-carnitine and progesterone, though it is less clear if over-the-counter progesterone supplements are effective.
One supplement that is widely recommended for all women hoping to become pregnant is folic acid. The role of folic acid is well-known in preventing birth defects, which is why all women hoping to conceive should be making sure they are getting enough through diet and supplements. Early research from the Netherlands has also shown improved IVF success rates for women who are using higher dose supplements of folic acid, which can support the body during times of rapid cell growth.
What should you look for in a fertility vitamin?
If you do opt to take a fertility vitamin or supplement, you’ll want to use good judgment about choosing the product that’s right for you. You’ll first want to consider your overall diet and if there are any key vitamins and minerals you might be low on. You’ll also want to do some research to ensure that any new vitamins don’t have negative interactions with other medications you take. You should also take the FDA’s advice and ask yourself if the product you are considering sounds too good to be true and if the company making the product has evidence to support that it works.
Fertility vitamins for him
As we all know, getting pregnant is a two-person job, so why should you be the only one popping a vitamin or two? Some recent research indicated that vitamin E might help improve fertility in men by increasing sperm motility. Another vitamin that seems to help is vitamin C, which has been shown also to increase sperm motility, especially for obese men. Vitamins E and C are both easy to find as individual supplements and may be found as part of men’s multivitamins, like One A Day’s Pre-Pregnancy Couple’s Pack. If your partner has concerns about fertility, he could also benefit from a folic acid supplement. Folic acid is thought to improve the health of sperm and, when combined with zinc, to increase sperm count in some men.
When should you start taking fertility supplements?
The best time to start taking fertility supplements, folic acid, and/or a prenatal vitamin that includes fertility-supporting minerals like zinc is as soon as you begin thinking about getting pregnant, if not before. Ideally, you’ll want to begin at least a month before you start to conceive, and you may want to consider a multivitamin with folic acid as long as you are in your child-bearing years. Yes, folic acid is that important!
Before you start
It’s important to remember that vitamins and dietary supplements are not reviewed by the Food & Drug Administration, so not all products available are guaranteed to be effective or safe. Some vitamins and minerals can have difficult side effects, like nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, especially if taken in large doses. Given that many vitamins and supplements haven’t been tested for safety in pregnant women, you’ll want to make sure that your doctor is aware of any medications, vitamins, or supplements you’re taking both before and during your pregnancy. Your doctor may also suggest a prenatal vitamin in addition to a fertility vitamin so that your body is really ready when the time comes!
