Natural Solutions for fertility

You've been trying for months, and still there's no baby on the way. You're beginning to wonder if you and your partner are infertile. Most doctors won't even diagnose infertility until after a couple has tried to conceive for a year. They advise that women ages 35 and over seek medical help after six months, however, because of natural declines in a woman's fertility.

Even today, with our great advancements in medicine and understanding of the human body, very little is actually known about improving female fertility. There are some natural methods that have been tried over the years to improve infertility, though.

The antioxidant aspect of fertility may be equally important. Modern living exposes us to many chemical insults. One example is direct and indirect exposure to cigarette smoke. Fortunately, people can help protect themselves by eating a diet that’s rich in antioxidants and select high potency nutritional supplements.

I also suggest that both partners take supplements, especially if the cause of fertility is unknown, as it can't hurt to enhance egg and sperm quality, or male and female hormone balance, at the same time.

Here is a list of my favorite natural remedies for infertility.

1. Pomegranate. Pomegranate has been shown in clinical studies to improve and balance the estrogen and progesterone levels and enhance nurturing energy. Both the flower and the fruit are helpful in fertility, but the fruit is more helpful with male fertility while the flower seems to be better for females.

2. Organic Wild Yams. Yams are not only used to help balance hormone levels, but also to regulate menstrual cycles. An irregular cycle can greatly complicate attempts to get pregnant, so being able to normalize them is a godsend.

3. Improve diet and get more Folic Acid. Improving your diet by eating more green veggies, fruits, and super foods has been shown to be the only remedy need in many cases of minor infertility problems. In addition to this, researchers have proven that women who take a daily supplement of folic acid, or eat a diet high in folic acid, are more likely to become pregnant than women with a lower intake.

4. COQ10 is widely known as being an important nutrient for many bodily functions, but many people are unaware of just how important this nutrient is to the reproductive system and fertility. COQ10 provides energy to all of the systems in the body including the reproductive system, and studies have shown that this nutrient is essential to healthy eggs and sperm.
This nutrient can be found in many species of fish, most specifically salmon, as well as other organ meats. You can also purchase a supplement to add this nutrient to your body if you do not often eat foods that are high in this necessary antioxidant.

5. Ashwagandha is sometimes referred to as the Indian Ginseng. It is widely used in Ayurveda and is known to help relieve stress, restore muscle and body tissue, relieve chronic fatigue and aid in rheumatism. Ashwagandha has been used as a male and female aphrodisiac, and studies in animals have suggested that it improves egg and semen quality. Poor egg and semen quality may have a factor in miscarriages. One of the claimed effects of ashwagandha is reduction of stress, which in itself can sometimes enhance fertility of either sex, if stress was the problem.

6. Rhodiola rosea (golden root or rose root) is an herb most commonly known for its ability improve mood, alleviate depression, reduce fatigue, and enhance mental and physical performance. However, it may have dramatic benefit for women trying to get pregnant and struggling with female infertility.
The effect of Rhodiola extract in women suffering from amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycles) was examined. Forty women with amenorrhea were given Rhodiola (either 100 mg of the extract orally twice a day for 2 weeks, or 1 ml of an injectable preparation intramuscularly for 10 days). Normal menses were restored in 25 women, 11 of whom became pregnant. Also, noted was that one of the authors of the study has treated several women in his practice who had failed to conceive with standard fertility drugs, and who become pregnant within several months of beginning Rhodiola extract.
Over 60% of the women had normal menstruation return, which is quite impressive. Over a quarter of the women becoming pregnant is equally impressive, if not more so. To put that in perspective, recent research shows that the commonly prescribed fertility Clomid is effective 16% of the time for unexplained infertility. When comparing this study of Rhodiola to advanced reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) which can cost $15,000 per treatment cycle, Rhodiola breaks even with IVF leading to pregnancy 26% of the time in a recent study.

7. Acai
The body stores toxic substances away for later processing, of course the body never manages to get around to clearing them as it is kept busy with the new influx of junk that is going in. This build up of toxins then slows down many of the process’s that the body is running. The antioxidant’s that are contained in Acai are able to help clear out these toxins and allow your body to get back to full efficiency in time. Some of the systems that get slowed down by this are the digestive, circulatory, and the reproduction system. By clearing the toxinc build up from your body you can help with problems that are sexually related and also fertility.

8. Resveratrol’s versatile efficacy as an anti-carcinogen, an anti-oxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent has been demonstrated in countless research studies around the world. Resveratrol is not considered a "fertility drug" but it has health enhancing and disease preventing benefits that have the potential to eliminate the undefined barriers to a healthy fertility condition. Resveratrol’s properties carry promising therapeutic benefits that include enhance body endurance, weight loss, increased muscle mass development and fertility.

9. Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree berry) is a well-known herb that has been used for centuries in Europe for hormonal imbalances in women. It may be helpful for women with PCOS who do not have a normalmenstrual cycle and thus don't ovulate or menstruate. A large percentage of these menstrual problems are related to insufficient progesterone during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which is called a luteal phase defect or corpus luteum insufficiency. A corpus luteum insufficiency is defined as an abnormally low progesterone level 3 weeks after the onset of menstruation. Insufficient levels of progesterone may result in the formation of ovarian cysts. In addition, some PCOS women have too much prolactin, which can inhibit fertility. Vitex may help with both of these problems.

Vitex and Fertility. In this study, a chasteberry preparation was used in a study of 3,162 women to assess the effectiveness of vitex for corpus luteum insufficiency. 77.4% had menstrual cycle disturbances of various types and the others suffered from a range of gynecological problems which included symptoms of corpus luteum insufficiency. The average length of treatment was 5 months. Hormone cytology and symptoms were used to assess the treatment.
The women reported the treatment as completely effective (33%), significant improvement (55%), and no change (7%). Their doctors reported very good results in 68% of cases, adequate in 22%, and no change in 7%.
In another study, 18 women with abnormally low progesterone levels were given vitex daily. After 3 months of treatment, 13 showed increases in progesterone and 2 became pregnant.

An additional benefit, chasteberry preparation was used in women with menstrual cycle abnormalities. Acne was either eliminated or improved during treatment.

10. Damiana is grown in South America. According to sexual dysfunction counselor Svetlana Ivanova, the people of Mexico have used damiana as a natural aphrodiasac and tonic. It is a fragrant and small shrub whose leaves are used in fertility treatments. The effects can also be a reproductive stimulant, and may improve cases of impotence. Women who are having difficulty with conception may see an increase and balancing of hormone levels and egg stimulation. This herb may also have an aphrodisiac effect that aids in conception.


The Rhodigandha supplement contains Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, and Pomegranate. I recommend this for my patients who have anxiety, stress, depression, adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues who are trying to get pregnant.

The Acai/Resveratrol/Maqui supplement also contains Green Tea, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium for maximum antioxidant support. I recommend this for my patients who have allergies, joint pain, lupus antibody, or overweight issues who are trying to get pregnant.

The Female Balance supplement contains Damiana, Wild Yam, and Chasteberry. I recommend this for my patients who have PCOS, infrequent menses, painful menses, and PMS who are trying to get pregnant.

Husbands can take any supplement except the female balance.

Please be evaluated by your physician and discuss the use of any supplements with them. The advice on this website is not meant to substitute the advice of your physician.