4 Natural Approaches to Enhance Fertility
Struggling to get pregnant? Healthista examines 4 natural ways to boost fertility.
It can be expensive, frustrating and stressful for women to struggle with infertility.
Healthista examines how natural methods can help improve fertility. This includes herbs and lifestyle changes that we can make.
Use natural herbs in your daily routine to improve fertility.
Dr Wendy Denning has been a Harley Street private GP for over 25 years. She was named Tatler’s Top 200 Doctors for three years running and has appeared regularly in the media in the last twenty years.
She is the co-presenter of the Channel 5 TV show The Diet Doctors Inside and Out. She also wrote the best-selling book that accompanies the series.
She is a strong proponent of Functional and Integrated Medicine. In 2007, she founded the Health Doctors Clinic, bringing together practitioners with many complementary specialties.
She is a mother of two who has had her children late and has a wealth of experience in implementing an Integrated Fertility Approach.
Healthista asked Wendy Denning, Dr Wendy Denning, what herbs we could incorporate into our daily regimen to boost fertility.
Agnus Castus
It is one of the most effective herbs for women, as it stimulates pituitary function and helps to regulate heavy periods.
This can also help balance hormones if progesterone levels are low and oestrogen levels are high, which is often the case in women who have been stressed or older.
Helps balance hormones if oestrogen and progesterone are in excess.
It can also help improve fertility in women who have PCOS, as they often have high levels of oestrogen or testosterone but low levels of progesterone.
This may take up to three months for it to be effective and does not help with male fertility.
Rosemary
You can use this herb in soups, teas or recipes. It eases cramps, regulates menstrual cycles and increases menstrual flow.
Liquorice Root
It can help normalise ovulation during a menstrual period, but it is not recommended for people with high blood pressure and those who are extremely stressed because cortisol may be raised.
Parsley
It can help conceive if used during the first half of the woman’s period.
A cup of parsley added to food or soups will increase your intake in vitamins and minerals. This is good for the kidneys, uterus and adrenals.
Parsley, however, can cause miscarriage, so avoid it during the second part of your menstrual cycle.
Alfalfa
The herb Alfalfa contains calcium, potassium magnesium manganese, vitamins C, E, and A.
This can also raise iron levels, which can be low and delay fertility or cause miscarriage. Dandelion can help here.
Alfalfa can also boost the health of an individual, which is good for fertility.
Dulse Powder & Seaweed
Seaweed is used in vegetarian sushi, and it contains a lot of iodine.
Add dulse or seaweed to your diet if you are lacking in iodine.
The two herbs also help to boost thyroid function, which is crucial as low thyroid hormone levels can lead to sub-fertility.
Dong Quai
Chinese fertility herbal blends use it extensively to help balance hormones, enhance fertility and boost fertility.
False unicorn root
Helps to regulate periods and balance hormones.
Yohimbe (for men)
You need to address both the female and male.
It is helpful for increasing fertility in men, as it increases testosterone and libido.
Astragalus (for men) and Horny goat Weed
You need to address both male and female fertility.
Astragalus, Horny Goat Weed and male libido can be improved by using these herbs.
READ MORE The doctor’s guide to increasing fertility
Fertility Method 2: Lifestyle habits for men and women
- Sleep for at least seven hours.
- Manage stress levels.
- For 6 months, limit alcohol and coffee.
- No smoking.
- It is important to always think positively when you want to become pregnant.
- Limited long distance travel.
- From day 9 to day 16 of your menstrual cycle, you can have sex on alternate days.
- Regular acupuncture.
- Running a marathon is not a good idea.
Sperm counts always lag behind by three months, so what a man ejaculates now he did 3 months ago. You have to start early with men to change their habits.
Fertility Method 3 Book a Blood Test
Healthista suggests private blood tests to help you better understand your body.
You can get results faster with private blood testing. This gives you more control over your health.
With more detailed tests, you can find the cause of your health problems faster than if you went to your GP.
Get to the root of your health problems faster and more effectively
Goodbody Clinic offers affordable private blood tests, and even offers GP consultations if the results are not favorable.
You can take the Female Fertility and Hormone Blood Test, PS79 to ensure that your reproductive health is within normal limits.
READ ON: 6 fertility tricks that can boost conception after 40
Fertility Method 4: Try personalized supplements
We recommend that you also have a general check-up with our Bioniq Private Blood Testing Company.
The company is a clinically proven and award-winning blood test and personalised supplements provider, driven by world-leading data. They have dozens of clinical studies and peer-reviewed publications under their belt.
The blood tests include up to 50 parameters consisting of 53 vitamins and mineral, including a complete count of your vitamin levels, mineral levels and metabolism.
Your bespoke, custom-made supplements will be made exactly to your measurements. No gaps are left for you to guess.