Natural supplements have taken an essential role in the lives of modern people. We use them for maintaining good health, as well as treat psychological and physiological dysfunctions. And that’s why you’re here today for fertility supplements!
It might be because of our comfortable lives in the 21st century that we can afford to pay attention to these little details of our health or the rise of technology that brought us much more knowledge of these different ways to treat ourselves.
Fertility Supplements
Anyway, infertility in males and females is a physiological health issue that dramatically affects the lives of many. And people are mostly skeptical of getting treatments or even merely discussing their problems with friends, family, or doctors. That is because it seems like such an unsolvable problem.
Several reasons can cause infertility, such as low sperm count in men due to depression, stress, alcohol, drug use, and more. And a disturbed menstrual cycle in women due to stress, PCOS (check out this article for PCOS supplements), PID, and more.
Luckily there are some extremely beneficial natural fertility supplements that might solve your problem. Here are some of them.
Vitamin-D
Structure: The active form of vitamin D is calcitriol, a naturally occurring hormone in our body. It is a beneficial supplement for the human body in general; it improves bone strength, reinforces the immune system, and treats diabetes and hypertension. It also enhances the female reproductive system’s functioning.
Function: The inner lining of the uterus is embedded with calcitriol receptors. It plays a role in the production of estrogen. After the conception, it maintains the immunity of the fetus and supports its growth.
Benefits: Vitamin-D helps in the ovum’s maturation, improving the ability of sperm to begin a pregnancy. And it also promotes better growth of the fetus during pregnancy.
For: While it is most beneficial for women, it can be useful for men’s sperm production as well.
Acetyl L-carnitine
Structure: Carnitine is naturally produced by the body and has provided many positive results in controlled studies for infertility. It contains fatty acids and carboxylic acids.
It has great oxidizing properties and acts in multiple ways to enhance the reproductive system.
Function: Carnitine transports fatty acids to the mitochondria. Therefore, it is useful in the production of more energy in the body’s cells. Carnitine can potentially increase the number of viable sperms produced by a male. And it also promotes better functioning in women’s reproductive systems.
Benefits: It increases the number and motility of sperm in men and prevents PCOS and other reproductive issues in women.
For: It is a useful fertility supplement for males and females alike.
Calcium
Structure: Calcium is technically a reactive metal, but it is crucially essential for the human body (or any living body) to carry out many basic functions; muscle function, bone health, blood circulation, and more.
Function: It is the main component required for the production of sperm in men and studies found a strong correlation calcium deficiency and male infertility. It was also found that proper calcium levels can alter the menstrual cycle by increasing estrogen, leading to ovulation in women.
Benefits: Increases sperm count and motility & stimulates ovulation.
For: Calcium is one of the only fertility supplements that is equally beneficial for men and women.
Omega-3s
Structure: Omega-3 is a fatty acid that is mainly found in the human body in three different types — alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
These fatty acids are crucial for brain development in infants as well as your eye health, brain health, and many other things.
Function: The DHA type is found in human sperm in high quantities. It helps in the production of viable and mature sperms. In females, the ovum’s quality is also altered by the amount of DHA present in the body.
Benefits: It enhances the production of viable sperms and the quality of oocytes.
For: Omega-3s is a great fertility supplement for both men and women.
Zinc
Structure: One of the most abundant metals on Earth, it is necessary for multiple processes in the human body. And its deficiency can cause severe health disorders like ataxia and lethargy.
Function: Zinc regulates the production and secretion of hormones. It ensures better motility and viability of sperms. During ovulation in females, it helps in the release of mature and healthy oocytes.
Benefits: It increases semen density and motility & leads to improvement in conception in women.
For: Zinc is important for men and women.
Folic Acid
Structure: Folic acid is a constituent of the Vitamin B complex. It consists of a pteridine ring, glutamic acid, and para-aminobenzoic acid. These elements help tissues grow, and cells work.
Function: A must supplement before and after conception. Folic acid increases the chances of conception by approximately 36%. During pregnancy, studies found it to protect the baby from neural tube defects (NTDs). Pregnant women require more folate than produced in the body.
Benefits: It promotes easy conception and prevents NTDs in the baby.
For: Folic acid is a great natural fertility supplement for women.
Selenium
Structure: Selenium is a metalloid that is extremely toxic in big amounts. But crucial for living cells in small amounts. It is a natural mineral that plays an essential role in metabolism and acts as an anti-oxidant in the body.
It is added to a lot of supplements and even in manufactured food for infants.
Function: Low amounts of selenium are necessary for sperm production and maturation. In females, it ensures the health of follicles in the ovary and helps prevent miscarriage.
Benefits: It increases sperm production and viability & maintains healthy follicles as well as prevents problems during the gestation period.
For: Selenium is important for both men and women in small amounts.
L-Arginine
Structure: Arginine is an essential amino acid of the human body; it contains an amino group, a carboxylic acid group, and a guanidino group. These components help blood vessels relax and also improve blood circulation.
Function: It functions as a protein and precursor of nitric oxide in the body. It regulates blood circulation, including in the uterus, meaning L-arginine helps improve the egg’s quality produced in the ovary, thus increasing conception rates in women.
Benefits: It helps in matured and viable egg production and successful implantation of the fertilized egg.
For: Arginine is a fertility supplement more beneficial for women.
Pycnogenol
Structure: Pycnogenol is obtained from the bark of a pine tree; it contains proanthocyanidins, which act as an anti-oxidizing agent in the body and helps improve blood flow.
Function: It has many benefits as an anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant agent. It helps in treating erectile dysfunction in men. And the anti-oxidizing properties help in raising the chances of conception.
Benefits: It increases chances of conception in women and treats erectile dysfunction in men.
For: It is an effective fertility supplement for both men and women.
Note: After confirmation of pregnancy, the supplement must be discontinued.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, there are many fertility supplements out there, for men and women alike. For women suffering from PCOS infertility, for men suffering from sperm count infertility. You have to go through their different benefits, do some more research and choose what’s right for you.
But, don’t forget it’s always a good, or even the best idea, to consult with a doctor before taking a supplement, even if it’s natural. Because when we’re talking about such an important subject, every little thing matters. So don’t take chances.
Write down which fertility supplements fit your needs, and next time you see your doctor bring it up and hear his/her advice. Good luck!