Most couples trying to conceive are focused on getting pregnant as soon as possible; however, fertility and issues with infertility can make that reality difficult to achieve. Nearly 12% of the child-bearing population faces problems with fertility. While engaging in intercourse as close to ovulation as possible is important, timing is not the only issue involved in a couple’s fertility.
Pregnancy involves a very specific process comprised of many steps. Initially, a woman’s body must release an egg from the ovaries which is then joined by the male’s sperm. After fertilization, the egg travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus and then moves inside and attaches to the uterus. As such, infertility or complications with fertility can occur at several different levels.
For a pregnancy to be conceived, both the male and the female must be fertile. While it generally requires medical analyses to determine the fertility level, several symptoms of infertility may help identify precursory fertility complications. In a female, abnormal periods, irregular periods, absent periods and even painful periods may be signs of infertility. Likewise, skin changes, differences in sex drive and weight gain may be additional signs of infertility. Symptoms are harder to identify in men; however, some signs may include changes in hair growth, differences in sexual desire, a pain or lump in the testicles, problems with erections and ejaculation and small or firm testicles.
Home Remedies to Boost Fertility
With the expense of artificial insemination and fertility treatment costs being both financially and emotionally overwhelming, many individuals are interested in other options. Several home remedies for fertility are easily available and particularly effective. Apple cider vinegar, chasteberry tincture and red raspberry leaf infusions are all possible remedies to increase fertility.
Additional supplements that are helpful for treating menstrual issues related to fertility issues include elethro root, dong quai, vitamin B12, folic acid, maca root, cherry blossom and yarrow root. For men, important supplements to support fertility include zinc, selenium, CoQ10, vitamin E, vitamin C, l-carnitine and antioxidants. Living a healthy, active lifestyle and avoiding excessive stress also facilitate a more natural approach to fertility.
Continue reading below for more helpful tips from our readers.
This is my first post on EC, I am not a female but have personally witnessed 3 of 3 women conceive from Maca Root alone .. My sister in law at age 34 and her husband for 9 years tired, I gave her a bag of maca root and she took half a table spoon in yogurt or oatmeal once or twice daily … then worked up to a level table spoon .. And In 6months she was pregnant, she stopped taking Maca after she conceived, she now has 4 healthy children. Two of my wife's co workers for 3-5 years could not conceive, I gave them a bag of maca root and both got pregnant in 3-4 months.. MACA ROOT is truly an amazing gift .. Hopefully you have the same Results, God bless
Hi Milo,
where can I find maca root? and how do I use it?
I can't take the Apple Cider Vinegar with a water so I mixed it with the orange juice and take it…does it matter what you mix the Apple Cider Vinegar with? and since I read that Apple Cider Vinegar helps woman get pregnant, how long should a woman takes it in order for it to work?
How long does it take to get pregnant when taking apple cider vinegar for fertility?
I am 29 years woman trying to conceive. Please advice, is ACV and soda good for me ? any side effect if there is any?
Dear Caroline, I think the ACV and soda would be fine for you and helpful. I have taken ACV during time of conception, all through pregnancy and post-partum and always felt it was helping. It even kept me off prescription meds for reflux during my last pregnancy!
Blackstrap molasses – 1 T. a day, is very good for everyone, and helpful for ladies cycles and excellent in pregnancy. If I take blackstrap when I am pregnant, I do not need any extra iron, and I do tend towards anemia.
Red Raspberry Leaf tea is excellent for women's health and pregnancy. You can drink 2-4 cups a day. You can buy the loose tea and or buy ready made tea bags. The pregnancy tea blends would be good for your fertility.
Two very helpful books you could read are "Fertility Cycles and Nutrition" by Marilyn Shannon, and Taking Charge of Your Fertility.
Hope that helps!
~Mama to Many~
Hi Everyone, I know when I come on here, often there are women writing in who are having difficulty conceiving. I just received this great video from David Wolfe with both him and Ron Teeguarden, a master Chinese herbalist, speaking on how to help the body with conceiving. David is speaking on remedies outside of herbs. Ron speaks about getting pregnant using Chinese herbs. He not only talks about what will help women but, also what will help men with a higher sperm count. It has some very important information regarding this issue which so many women I think could use.
It’s called Secrets for Increasing Fertility:
http://www.longevitywarehouse.com/Articles.asp?ID=543
Hope this can help someone out there! Lisa
I am 26 yrs old. I am married and have a child 4.5 yrs old I am trying for next baby. But the problem is I have left tube block. After ceserean. I have taken a precaution by using COPPER T. I have used 2.5yrs. And I have remove the COPPER T. from 2.5 yrs I am trying to conceive. What should I have to do.
Chasteberry tincture, 2000 mg/ day, plus red raspberry leaf infusions worked for me.
Currently I am wanting to get pregnant but have issues with my menstrual cycle never ending, at all. My doctor placed me on Birth Control to correct the issue but it has not worked at all. So, I just started going for acupuncture in the hopes that I can get a break from always having my period. The woman I go to for acupuncture suggested I start taking Vitex Chaste Berry to regulate my hormones in order to stop the bleeding and to get pregnant. After researching Vitex, every website is saying not to take it with Birth Control. I should also mention I am on thyroid medication.
My question is, if I start taking Vitex, do I stop the Birth Control? My doctor has not really been any help and at the moment, I can’t afford to go back just to ask her these questions. If the Birth Control isn’t working as far as making my period stop, then I don’t see why I need to stay on it. I’m trying to get pregnant, not stop it from happening. Thanks in advance.
Hi Lisa, I don’t know anything about chaste berry, but as for the birth control pills… I would chuck those in a heartbeat. Awful stuff. (mo)
Have you read here on Earth Clinic about ACV for menstrual issues? If I were you I would start taking a tablespoon of unsulphered blackstrap molassas every morning, along with Organic virgin coconut oil. (for thyroid support). I put both in my morning coffee.
I would also take ACV a couple of times a day. Look it up on here… I think it is under “menstrual problems” or some such thing. Also, if you are not taking a prenatal vitamin, I would start NOW. You want to be sure you are in fighting form before you become pregnant! I do know that the B vitamins are very improtant.
So to sum it all up – I would look up these things on the internet or Earthclinic as they relate to you:
1) Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
2) Unsulphered Blackstrap Molassas
3) Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
4) Vitamins to take before becoming pregnant
Good luck, and please keep us posted!
Carly 🙂
Lisa, try simply taking the remainder of the prescription until it’s gone and go from there. As for the Vitex, if it’s not working I would try an herbal combination for menstrual issues. Two herbs that come to mind are Elethro Root and Dong Quai. Herbal combinations have a much broader spectrum effect on the body compared to single herb. Might be helpful to take some B-12 and Folic Acid to keep the blood counts up, as well as a very good whole food multivitamin/mineral to detox & heal the entire body.
Good luck please post results.
Hi Lisa, Unfortunately some Drs put you on the pill for this and often its not the right one for your imbalance. Gynecologists &/or even endocrinologist are better. That said years ago my gyn & endo did help me but only whilst on treatment but once off teatment almost back to square one and as we know you can’t get pregnant (very rare) whilst on the pill! Whereas with some herbal treatments you can actually fix the problem. I took yarrow tea with success (1 cup on rising & 1 cup mid afternoon but not whilst menstruating, as per Maria Treben) because yarrow was easy for me to get. Chasteberry was not available to me then. All that I have read about it sounds good and many have had success with it both in becoming regular and pregnant.
Personally I would not be taking the pill if it is not working. Plus you really should not try to conceive till you have been off the pill for four months minimum. Whilst they say it does not cause birth defects it can lower your folic acid and folic acid deficiency causes neural tube birth defects. I have read that on the 28th or 29th day of pregnancy it is vital and of course we don’t usually know we are even pregnant then. Thus 4 months is a minimum for pre-conception nutrition. So in answer to your question I personally would take the herb and not take the pill to allow the herb to do its job.
As you have a thyroid problem please research iodine, many have posted here and only a couple of days ago Bill’s info was great.
Pregnancy and pre-conception nutrition (in addition to what Carly has mentioned), sorry not many references as I’m reaching into my memory bank, these are not the only ones as I’m sure you know :
Selenium (and extra if you have amalgam fillings) – downs syndrome
Vit D – many! http://vitamin-d-answers.info/three-important-vitamin-d-benefits-for-pregnancy
Vit B6 – Nausea (all Bs are important)
Vitamin E with the selenium – muscular dystrophy, Dr Joel Wallach
Folic Acid – Neural tube defects
Iodine – Brain development, Cretinism
Vit C small amount with meals to aid natural iron absorption. Plus don’t drink tea (even green) with meals as it reduces iron absorption.
Love to know when you get pregnant. All the best.
Rasberry Leaf Tea is very helpful in strengthing the uterus in order to get pregnant and support a fetus.
I had that same problem I bleed for three month straight the dr put me on pills but the pills did not help in no way so I stop taking them and deside to go for herbs my hevenley father give us herbs for healing thanks to the people that know what herb to take for what issue that we have some how I went on the net and find earth clinic. Every thing that I found for my issues I take. I start with cayan pepper and blackstrap molasses so I drank that ant stop eating meat and dairy products and my bleeding did stop.. But I went back and eat chicken and started do use dairy product again and it started back and try to keep away from stress try to be happy I know what I am telling you is true, when I am stress I does bleed for a long time. But thank God now I knew what to take. I do not take too many cayenne pepper any more because I find that it burn my stomach so I take a can of beets the juice that in the can I mix it with the molasses red wine or aloes, get hibiscus petals wash and eat about 5 petals, and get shepherd purse from health store steep and drink till bleeding stop, and get red raspberry steep and drink as a tea you can drink that every day. If they is any thing else you want to know e mail me at bornagain-48(at)live.com forget the dr pills it do not work I do not bleed for month any more. I hope that this info work. be bless.
Hello, a few days ago I read the posting about miscarriage prevention and taking Vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate. I have had 4 miscarriages in the past and we are trying to conceive this month. The health food stores in my area had nothing labeled Vitamin C Sodium Ascorbate. So, I purchased a product from TwinLab called Ascorbate C – Instant buffered Vitamin C concentrate. Nothing on the label says sodium ascorbate but it contains calcium ascorbate, rose hips extract, acerola fruit extract, lemon bioflavonoids, hesperdin complex and rutin. Can I take this form of vitamin C which I purchased to help prevent miscarriage? Will this provide the same benefits as sodium ascorbate? The product comes in powdered form and the label says add a teaspoon in a 3/4 cup of cold water.
Reshall,
Here is a great article on Vitamin C. Also vitamin E deficiency can cause miscariages. The “pill” depletes the body of Vitamin E.
http://www.doctoryourself.com/pregnancy_lactation.html
Two supplements to try in order to get pregnant would be Maca root and cherry blossom. And dont drink soy milk. Soy causes infertility. I love soy milk, but the estrogen levels are too high for people who are trying to get pregnant.
dried apricots with honey cured my excessive bleeding
i had been taking fertility medication and had stopped due to some side effects and the had bleeding and spotting continuously for one month. the doctor prescribed iron tablets coz i didn’t want more medication.. my hormones were already out of control. well i just had this dessert made of around 100 grams of apricots with 2 tablespoons honey and water, boiled it for 20-30 minutes on sim and blended the mixture and had a cup. next day my bleeding completely stopped and now its been 2 weeks with no bleeding.
Dong quai is excellent. I got pregnant with my daughter taking it. Also, Royal Jelly (refrigerated kind). There are also some really good brands out there that contain, (with honey) Royal jelly, and bee pollen, and propolis. Ive heard of people getting pregnant using it, and its great for your skin, and everything else. Ive also read it makes you really horny too. Hehehe.
I have the same problem with bleeding. What is the exact recipe for you apricot mixture and how often do I take it? Thank you a ton for posting this. I have been at my wits end with this problem.
Natural Birth Control/Fertility Methods:
Hi: I love your site and wanted to recommend the addition of a Natural Birth Control/Fertility area. Aside from just the birth control and increasing fertility subjects, there are lots of other side issues involved in this subject matter that could be covered here. (such as helping late periods, etc.) Balancing hormones when coming off of the pill, to alleviate side effects, could also be discussed (and I have some tips there!)
There is a growing interest among women to research these topics, and very little info available. I think your site would be a great resource in which to explore these kinds of methods. Perhaps an emphasized disclaimer could be added as well.
Just a thought…Manganese is the spark for all life…in the soil, and our bodies…correct me if I am wrong (EC)
Thank you