Female Fertility Vitamin Supplement – In Drugs We Trust…?
AUTHOR: Mervin C Bodega
Whether a female fertility vitamin supplement will work for you or not greatly depends on the kind of vitamin and if it addresses the cause of infertility. For instance, if your infertility is stress related, then the B vitamins may help since they are known to relieve anxiety and stress.
Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic Acid, in particular, is well known for reducing stress. You need it to ensure the proper function of your adrenal glands. Vitamin B1 or Thiamine, on the other hand, can help with circulation in your reproductive system and digestion. It can even rid your body of toxins.
Vitamin B9 (also Folic Acid or Folate)
One of the most common nutrition supplements used by women during conception is Vitamin B9. The US Government’s recommendation is 400 micrograms of folic acid during ovulation and in the first trimester of pregnancy.
You can find Vitamin B9 in leafy greens like spinach, in enriched grain products, and in orange juice. When you do get pregnant Folic Acid will help reduce the risk of your baby developing common but serious birth defects. These are called neural tube defects and they affect the baby’s spinal cord and brain.
Meanwhile, your body uses Vitamin B9 for extra blood needed during ovulation and conception. That is why females of childbearing age should have 400 mcg of Folate daily.
One example of a female fertility vitamin supplement is Clearblue. The formulation includes the daily-required 400 mcg of Folate plus Ginger, which many women have found to promote well-being during the first trimester.
This female fertility vitamin supplement comes in preservative- yeast- gelatin-, and gluten-free capsule form. Clearblue also has Omega 3, the enzyme found in tuna oil, which promotes normal eye and brain function. Many women also find it beneficial during breastfeeding.
As with any female fertility vitamin supplement, it is best taken under the supervision of a doctor.
A doctor may recommend that you increase you Folate supplement intake to one that provides 800 mcg when you get pregnant, especially when your diet does not provide enough of it. You need a doctor to measure your Folate level.
Other Supplements
One clinical study has shown that isoflavones (estrogen-like plant chemical) may increase in vitro fertilization success. Another study showed that Vitamin C supplements improved pregnancy rates in women who had a Luteal-phase defect. But more and better research is needed in both cases.
Other studies have reported that multivitamin supplements could slightly increase fertility, while others hint that Calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin A (Beta carotene) may also help. But, again, more studies need to be undertaken.
However, one thing is certain: if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, do not take more than 100% of the recommended daily doses of Vitamins D and A since these two vitamins have been associated with certain birth defects.