6 Best Fertility Supplements & Vitamins For Women To Get Pregnant

Let’s talk about fertility supplements.

When you're trying to conceive, every month counts. And if it's taking longer than you'd hoped, you're likely looking at every possible angle.

When my patients are having trouble conceiving, I evaluate a number of factors, including whether or not they are taking the best natural fertility supplements. Shown to support fertility, certain supplements are must-haves when trying to conceive and beyond.

Ready to learn more? Keep reading to get my list of top six fertility supplements!

 

Dr. Pingel’s Top 6 Fertility Supplements

Here are my top recommended fertility supplements.

1. B vitamins

Before we dive into the specific reasons by a B-complex vitamin topped my list of fertility supplements let’s first discuss one important fact: B vitamins are known to support your hormone production throughout your body. And this includes the stress hormone cortisol.

Remember that when you’re experiencing stress, your adrenal glands respond by releasing more cortisol. But according to a 2016 review, B vitamins help to manage cortisol levels by supporting GABA production. [1]

This is critical because research has shown that high cortisol levels are linked to infertility! [2]

So, now let’s review some of the specific B vitamins and how they support fertility.

According to one study, women with the highest levels of vitamin B6 were more than twice as likely to conceive as women with the lowest levels. Furthermore, the odds of early pregnancy loss decreased with higher levels of vitamin B6. [3]

Additionally, a 2012 study revealed that supplementing with vitamin B9 (also known as folate–and specifically methylated folate) supports optimal progesterone levels. Meanwhile, being deficient in vitamin B9 was linked to irregular ovulation. [4]

2. Vitamin D

I’ve discussed previously how vitamin D supports whole-body function. But did you know that vitamin D is one of the most essential fertility supplements out there?

According to a review and meta-analysis of 11 studies on 2,700 women, your vitamin D level is directly linked to your fertility.

When compared to those with deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D, those with sufficient levels were 33 percent more likely to have live births, 34 percent more likely to receive a positive pregnancy test, and 46 percent more likely to experience pregnancy overall! [5]

This data is a pretty compelling reason to consider using a quality vitamin D supplement, if you’re looking to support your fertility.

3. Zinc

The last few fertility supplements we’ve discussed have mainly focused on their benefits for women. But what if you’re a male looking for fertility support?

Well, research has shown that a zinc deficiency may play a role in male infertility. As a result, supplementing with zinc may be a great option to support male reproductive health.

According to a 2018 review, researchers found that zinc displays a hormone balancing role and actually supports testosterone, the prostate, and even acts as an anti-bacterial agent in men’s urea system.

Interestingly, the researchers also noted that zinc “is essential for maintaining the lining of the reproductive organs.” But perhaps most interestingly, according to multiple studies, zinc benefits sperm quality as well, with a direct relationship shown between levels and sperm quality. [6] 

4. DHEA

DHEA benefits the body by aiding in the production of sex hormones in both men and women.

But when it comes to fertility supplements, it’s important to note that DHEA should only be taken in certain situations. Personally, I prescribe DHEA when levels are low, in conjunction with lower cortisol, estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone levels.

Interestingly, studies have shown women who supplement with DHEA, especially those with diminished ovarian function, can increase their likelihood of becoming pregnant by more than 20 percent! [7]

But that’s not all—it’s also worth noting that supplementing with DHEA may be beneficial even after a pregnancy is established.

Here’s why: As a fetus, your adrenal glands produced more than 200 mg of DHEA each day, which is almost 10 times the amount that adults produce! [8] This happens because the placenta calls for more DHEA production to support the development of the embryo. [9]

Interestingly, studies have found that serum levels of cortisol, DHEA, and other hormones drastically decrease during a baby’s first week of life. [10]

So, it’s definitely worth discussing this supplement with your physician!

For more information on supplementing with DHEA, including how much you may need, click here.

5. Omega-3 fatty acid

It’s well documented that omega-3 fatty acids are known to promote sexual health by acting as a precursor of prostaglandins. But did you know that new research has shown it has a direct impact on fertility

According to a study published in May 2022 on 900 women covering 2,510 menstrual cycles, women taking omega-3 supplements were 1.5 times more likely to become pregnant than women who didn’t supplement. [11]

Moreover, a 2017 study revealed that omega-3 fatty acids may help to delay ovarian aging and improve the quality of developing eggs at advanced maternal age. [12]

6. Selenium

Finally, we can’t discuss fertility supplements without mentioning selenium, as one of its primary benefits is supportingreproductive health.

Several scientific reports have noted that a deficiency in selenium is linked to infertility, miscarriage, preeclampsia, preterm labor, gestational diabetes, and more. [13]

And a 2015 study revealed that selenium levels are higher in large healthy ovarian follicles. As a result, the researchers surmised that selenium could perform vital antioxidant functions for the ovaries during later follicular development. [14]

 

Fertility supplements - Dr. Pingel

 

Other Supplements Worth Considering

Because this list is by no means comprehensive, I also recommend discussing the following supplements with your doctor if you’re trying to conceive:

 

If you’d like to learn more about how these—and other—fertility supplements may work best for your individual situation, I want to invite you to check out my Personal Health Consultations.

These one-on-one virtual health and wellness coaching sessions are tailored to your specific needs and provide you with the education you need to reach your health goals.