Can supplements increase your chances of getting pregnant?

Yes, it is always assumed that a balanced and healthy diet is enough to be provided with an adequate amount of vitamins. Still, researchers have started to shed light on the role of vitamins when it comes to conception and the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. It is hardly surprising, that vitamins play an incredibly important role in general health and well-being, but also in women’s health specifically. An insufficient supply can wreak havoc on our hormones and thus our fertility. After all, they are essential for many functions in the female body, among others:

• Menstruation and ovulation
• Healthy Thyroid function
• metabolism
• Healthy immune function
• Egg cell quality and maturation

A sufficient supply of vitamins and minerals is therefore not only crucial for our general health, but also when it comes to creating the optimal conditions for a healthy pregnancy. For example, it has long been known that folic acid plays an important role in preparing for pregnancy and early stages of a pregnancy.

Studies on men have also shown that certain nutrients can increase the number and motility of sperm and thus can help them to reach their goal more easily.

All in all, nutritional supplements can be very helpful when trying to get pregnant. However, it is important to remember that more research still has to be done in this field. But let’s take a look at some vitamins that can be helpful if you want to have children and are planning to become pregnant.

Folic acid

Folic acid in preparation for pregnancy

Folic acid is THE nutrient for everyone who wants to get pregnant. Surely you have heard about it many times before. In addition, women who do not receive enough folic acid through their diet also have a higher risk of their child being born with a neural tube defect. When we consider how a baby’s life begins – a single cell that divides again and again – it makes sense that folic acid could help ensure that everything is going well when it comes to cell division and thus fetal development.

Although folic acid cannot eliminate such birth defects, it has been shown that taking folic acid ahead of time before conception and during early pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of birth defects such as neural tube defects. Other potential benefits of folic acid supplementation may include:

• Reduced risk of congenital heart defects
• A lowered risk of premature birth and a lower risk of low birth weight
• Increased progesterone levels and a lowered risk of irregular ovulation

Therefore, there are many good reasons why women should take folic acid in the form of a dietary supplement – to support their fertility and most certainly if they plan to have a baby.

Iron

Can iron deficiency influence conception?

Do you feel tired, weak, dizzy or short of breath at times? Is your answer yes? Well, you are not alone! These symptoms could be signs of an iron deficiency, which is the most common nutritional deficiency in women in their reproductive years.

But why does iron deficiency occur so frequently in this age group? Well, women lose a lot of blood – and therefore a lot of iron – every month when they’re menstruating.

Most women already know that iron deficiency can make them feel tired and low on energy. But did you know that iron deficiency can also affect your fertility?

Researchers have linked iron deficiency to infertility, miscarriages, low birth weight and premature labor. They have also found that women with insufficient iron levels also suffer more often from anovulation, which means that sometimes ovulation does not occur. With iron deficiency, the development of red blood cells is reduced, and we lack sufficient oxygen supply to the tissues in our body, including the ovaries and uterus. If our reproductive organs are not sufficiently supplied with oxygen, this also has a negative effect on our egg cells. Unsurprisingly, this can cause difficulties when trying to get pregnant and it can also make maintaining a healthy pregnancy more difficult.

Iron deficiency can therefore have a direct impact on your cycle and fertility. A sufficient supply of nutrients and fertility go hand in hand. If you have been trying to get pregnant for some time without success, it may be a good idea to take a closer look at your nutrient levels.

Magnesium

Can a dietary supplement with magnesium be helpful?

Although it is still unclear what the exact effect of magnesium on our fertility is, researchers have come to the conclusion that there is a connection between magnesium deficiency and infertility, especially in women.

Although the exact effects on the egg cells and ovulation are still unclear, it’s already known that magnesium helps in maintaining a good blood supply to the uterus and is essential for the production of progesterone, “the pregnancy hormone”. Insufficient supply of magnesium is also associated with chronic inflammatory processes, which are considered one of the driving forces of aging and are linked to poor egg quality and reduced fertility.

Of course, this does not mean that taking magnesium can do miracles for every woman who has difficulty conceiving. After all, there’s a wide range of factors that can contribute to infertility, some of which can be genetic. However, even if you’re not trying to conceive it is worth ensuring that you provide your body with the recommended amounts of this vital mineral.

In addition, magnesium is not only of great importance if you want to prepare your body for pregnancy and conceive. A sufficient supply is essential for a healthy pregnancy. A magnesium deficiency during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of placental problems, miscarriage and premature birth.

Zinc

Can zinc increase your chances in getting pregnant? 

Zinc is the second most common trace element in the human body. It is essential for a number of processes in the human body, a healthy immune function just being one of them. It can also reduce inflammation and the risk of some age-related diseases. The recommended daily requirement is 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women. Since it cannot be stored in the body, regular and sufficient intake through food is essential.

Some possible symptoms of zinc deficiency in women, as well as in men, may be:

• poor wound healing
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• diminished sense of smell and taste

Zinc supports female fertility by regulating normal hormone function, cell division and ovulation.

Is zinc a “sperm booster”?

Studies have shown that the concentration of zinc in the sperm of infertile men is often significantly lower than in fertile men. It has been shown that the measurement of the zinc content in seminal fluid can be an important indicator for men’s fertility. These results can be very helpful for couples who are trying to get pregnant.

Taking a zinc supplement can help improve sperm quality. With a higher concentration of zinc in a man’s body, the sperm that he produces will be healthier and therefore more capable to survive the process of reaching and fertilizing an egg cell. In fact, a sufficient supply of zinc can also significantly increase the number and motility of sperm.

Vitamin D3

What does vitamin D3 have to do with fertility? 

Did you know that vitamin D3 works in the same way as hormones? Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D3 has receptors that are present in virtually every cell and tissue in the body and is involved in every biological process.

Optimizing your vitamin D3 levels is crucial to all aspects of good health. That’s because:

• the immune system is strengthened
• reproductive health is improved
• the risk of pre-eclampsia, premature birth and pregnancy complications is reduced
• general health of mothers during pregnancy is improved, thus reducing the need for medication that could lead to further effects
• the risk of infections in newborns is reduced
• the risk of vaginal infections is reduced
• sperm quality is improved
• In women who are trying to become pregnant, higher vitamin D3 levels are associated with higher chances of conception. Studies also show that higher vitamin D3 levels can improve the embryo implantation rate and the outcome of fertility treatments.

Healthy vitamin D3 levels remain important throughout pregnancy. Many experts in the field of reproductive health believe that maintaining healthy vitamin D3 levels during pregnancy is critical, since it has been linked to a reduction in pregnancy complications.

Keep in mind, maintaining healthy vitamin D3 levels is not only important for women. Men can also benefit greatly from it. Healthy vitamin D3 levels have been associated with improved sperm health and motility, among other things. This also can contribute to increased chances of conception.

If you’re trying to prepare your body for pregnancy, it might be a good idea to boost your nutrient intake by taking a supplement. When in doubt it makes sense to take a closer look at your current nutrient status with a trusted medical professional to find out if there is a deficiency. Don’t forget that your partner should do the same thing. After all, making the wish to have children come true is always a matter that involves both partners ♡

Don’t forget: breathe ilo can help you to learn when you’re ready to conceive by determining your fertile window.