Fertility herbs and vitamins are low-cost alternatives or supplements to conventional and more complex modes of fertility treatment, such as medications like clomiphene and procedures like in vitro fertilization. While common causes of infertility include failure to ovulate, male sperm problems and structural problems in the female genital tract, the majority of cases of infertility still remain unexplained. The causes of most of these cases could probably be traced to lifestyle and nutritional factors, which can be addressed through natural ways.
Supplements from herbs like flaxseed oil, saw palmetto, evening primrose and red raspberry, vitamins B, C and E, folic acid, and the minerals zinc and selenium can also be made part of fertility treatment. While these substances are believed to aid fertility and are mostly available over-the-counter, their effectiveness and safety are not guaranteed. It is still best to have a discussion with your doctor before taking any fertility medication.
Vitamin E and Fertility
Vitamin E, or alpha-tocopherol, is a powerful antioxidant that sequesters harmful free radicals that damage cells and DNA. The vitamin improves the fertility of both sexes. If you are a man, vitamin E at 400 to 800 IU per day is suggested to make the sperms more motile and potent, and therefore more effective in fertilizing the egg. Giving vitamin E supplementation prior to in vitro fertilization has improved successful fertilization rates of the procedure from 20 to almost 30 percent–a rate that is higher than most assisted reproduction technologies.
If you are a woman, the antioxidant effects of vitamin E will promote overall reproductive health and well-being. Similar to its effect in sperms, vitamin E at about 200 IU per day can significantly improve the quality of egg cells, and it also regulates mucus production by the cervix. Cervical mucus is one of the important barriers that sperm cells must penetrate before reaching the egg cell. The vitamin is said to invigorate the endocrine system and help address any hormonal imbalances.
Vitamin E is available as nutritional supplements in the tocopherol form. You can start with 200 IU daily, then gradually increase the dose until you reach 400 IU per day. Talk to your physician before starting vitamin E supplementation, especially if you have anemia, bleeding problems or liver disease.
You can also get vitamin E from diet. Foods rich in vitamin E include green leafy vegetables, whole wheat and liver.
Improving Fertility the Natural Way
The relevance of fertility herbs to the management of infertility is emphasized by some studies. These show that couples that made positive changes in their lifestyle and took various pro-fertility nutritional supplements may actually have higher success rates than couples who opted for assisted reproduction technologies.
A well-balanced and healthy diet is crucial not only in ensuring a successful pregnancy and raising a healthy baby, but ultimately in conception itself, because healthy diets can address hormone imbalances that cause infertility. Smoking and alcohol negatively affect the chances of successfully conceiving. Both decrease the odds of successful conception, and significantly reduce sperm counts and increase the number of abnormal sperm forms.
