According to the Mayo Clinic, female fertility is a woman’s ability to conceive a biological child. Several factors can affect a woman’s fertility, such as ovulation disorders, damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, uterine problems and age. The website Getting Pregnant Fast states that vitamins play a significant role in fertility because they help balance hormones and keep the nervous system and organs functioning at an optimal level. A healthy lifestyle consisting of a variety of vitamins, exercise and regular visits to your health care provider can help increase your fertility and aid in pregnancy.
Vitamin C
The website Natural Health for Fertility states that vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that improves hormone levels, increases fertility and helps to absorb iron in women with a luteal phase defect. According to the Fertility Shop, women should avoid large doses of vitamin C because it can dry up cervical fluid, preventing sperm from reaching the egg. The recommended daily dose is 500mg.
Flaxseed Oil
According to the Fertility Shop, flaxseed oil helps alleviate menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, female infertility and endometriosis by improving uterine function. Natural Health for Fertility states that flaxseed oil is an essential fatty acid that contains hormone-balancing lignans and phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant estrogens that help balance a woman’s estrogen and progesterone levels, increasing fertility and the odds of conception. The recommended daily dose is 400mg.
Evening Primrose Oil
Natural Health for Fertility states that evening primrose oil is more of an herbal product, but it is often listed as part of important vitamins for women. Evening primrose aids in the production of fertile cervical mucus, which is necessary for conception. Women who are trying to conceive should not take evening primrose oil after ovulation because it can cause uterine contractions. The recommended daily dose is 2,000mg.
Arginine (L-arginine)
Arginine is beneficial for improving fertility. Natural Health for Fertility states that L-arginine is an amino acid that provides blood flow to the uterus, ovaries and genitals. It aids in creating a healthy environment in the uterus for embryo implantation. It also increases the quality of cervical mucus by increasing the production of stretchy, egg-white-like fertile mucus. The recommended daily dose is 16g.
Folic Acid
According to Baby Hopes, folic acid is one of the few nutrients known to prevent neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida, which affects one in every 1,000 babies born in the United States. Women who take the recommended daily dosage of folic acid reduce their baby’s risk of variety of birth defects by 50 percent. Women who do not get enough folic acid in their diet before and during pregnancy may increase their chances of a miscarriage or still birth. The recommended daily dose of folic acid is 400mcg.
Iron
According to Natural Fertility, getting enough iron is essential for the formation of healthy red blood cells that are needed for fertility and conception. Iron is a blood-building nutrient that increases fertility by helping to balance ovulation. The website Getting Pregnant states that women who take iron supplements decrease their chances of ovulation disorder infertility. Women who are of childbearing age are at risk for developing iron-deficient anemia because menstruation, pregnancy and lactation all deplete the body’s natural stores of iron. The recommended daily dose is 15mg preconception.
Vitamin B6
According to Natural Health for Fertility, vitamin B6 is essential for restoring hormonal balance and increasing fertility in women. Vitamin B6 helps balance the progesterone levels in women who are having problems conceiving. Baby Corner states that vitamin B6 has the ability to lengthen a woman’s luteal phase. A luteal phase defect occurs when the luteal phase (the time from ovulation to menstruation) is less than 10 days. A luteal phase should last between 11 and 16 days for a successful pregnancy to occur. The recommended daily dose is 100mg.
About this Author
Dr. R.Y. Langham was a senior writer for “The Herald” magazine from 1996-1999. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Fisk University in English, a master’s degree from Trevecca Nazarene University in marriage and family therapy and a doctorate from Capella University in family psychology. Her dissertation on child sexual abuse was published by ProQuest in 2007.
