Use These Safe Supplements to Become a Happy Parent

While any issues with conception need to be discussed with an experienced doctor, there are well-known dietary products that can increase the chance of your getting pregnant. Here is a comprehensive list of the best supplements for fertility — both male and female. All of them are well-researched, affordable, and, above all, safe.

1. B Vitamins

In a large-scale long-running study, B vitamins as a whole were found to decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility. There is also a promising hypothesis that B vitamins can improve sperm quality. 

As for individual B vitamins, low levels of vitamin B₁₂ in women were tied to infertility. A 2015 study demonstrated that women who underwent infertility treatment and had higher levels of B₁₂ and B₉ (folate) had higher fertility. 

While taking folic acid (vitamin B₉) during pregnancy is important for the proper development of the nervous system of the baby, it was found that this B vitamin can also help women conceive faster. 

You can find the best supplements for male and female fertility on iHerb. Here is one of the highest rated multivitamin formulas that contains the whole range of B vitamins:

Complete BioActive Vitamin B Complex, 60 capsules by Life Extension

• Contains B vitamins in their most bioavailable forms
• Non-GMO
• Enough capsules for 30 days of use
• Reputable brand

2. Vitamins C and E

Both vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (tocopherol) are antioxidants that protect cells from free radicals. In a 2016 scientific review, it was found that ascorbic acid taken together with tocopherol can improve the quality of sperm as well as increase the number and mobility of spermatozoa in men. 

Liposomal vitamin C is the most bioavailable form of ascorbic acid: its levels in the blood fall down considerably more slowly than those of the regular ascorbic acid or its salts. Here is one of the highest rated liposomal vitamin C supplements on iHerb:

Liposomal vitamin C, 180 capsules, 500 mg per capsule by Dr. Mercola

• Dependable brand
• A dosage of one capsule (500 mg) per day will be enough for most adults who do not suffer from the acute vitamin C deficiency (scurvy)

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that needs to be taken in softgels filled with oil. Here is one of the best products that contain tocopherol from a reputable brand:

Naturally Sourced Vitamin E, 100 softgels, 100 IU per softgel by Solgar

• Contains no gluten, wheat, or dairy
• Vitamin E is dissolved in safflower oil 

3. Vitamin D

Research into both female and male fertility shows that there is a strong connection between low levels of vitamin D and infertility. Thus, a regular intake of this vitamin might improve your chance of becoming a parent.

What’s more, in a recent 2019 study it was discovered that some women with infertility due to a hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) had low levels of vitamin D. Although vitamin D can be called neither the sole most important nor one of the best supplements for PCOS fertility issues, you can still use it as an addition to the medicines prescribed by your gynecologist. 

Here is one of the most popular vitamin D products on iHerb:

Vitamin D3, 1,000 IU per softgel by NOW Foods

• One container with 360 softgels is enough for a year
• Optimal dosage
• Oil-filled softgels for maximal bioavailability
• Well-known brand

4. Calcium

As calcium is required for sperm production, there is a plausible hypothesis supported by a 2019 study that low levels of this mineral might lead to infertility in men. Although additional research is required, if you are deficient in calcium, the use of dietary supplements might help you become a happy father.

Here is one of the most popular calcium supplements on iHerb:

Calcium Citrate, 350 mg per tablet by Natural Factors

• 90 tablets
• Non-GMO
• Laboratory tested
• Optimal dosage

5. Coenzyme Q₁₀

Just like vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q₁₀ is a powerful antioxidant. Unlike them, it is synthesized by your body, although the rate of this synthesis can be insufficient in some people.

Recent 2019 and 2020 studies conclude that dietary supplements with CoQ₁₀ can help improve sperm motility. There is also ongoing research into the benefits of CoQ₁₀ supplementation for in vitro fertilization.

You can buy the best CoQ₁₀ supplements for fertility on IHerb. Here is one of the highest-rated of them:

CoQ10, 360 softgels, 100 mg per softgel by California Gold Nutrition

• One container with 360 softgels is enough for a year
• Non-GMO
• Does not contain gluten and soy
• Well-known brand

6. Carnitine

Carnitine is an organic compound that is responsible for energy production within cells. Carnitine naturally occurs in humans (as well as in animals) in the so-called L-form. In numerous studies, it was found that the number and motility of sperm directly correlate with L-carnitine concentrations in semen.

In a 2003 study 86 men took dietary supplements with L-carnitine in a daily dose of 2 grams for two months: as a result their sperm concentration and motility markedly improved.

What’s more, a 2018 medical article there was put forward a hypothesis that L-carnitine (as well as a chemically related compound acetyl L-carnitine) can be used for improving female fertility.

While more research into carnitine benefits for both male and female reproductive health is required, as of now it can be considered one of the best supplements to increase fertility. Here is one of the most popular L-carnitine products on iHerb:

L-Carnitine, 100 Tablets, 1000 mg (1 g) per tablet by NOW Foods

• Non-GMO and vegan
• Convenient dosage
• Clinically tested purest form
• Well-known brand

7. Iron

Iron is a crucial part of hemoglobin, a protein that is used by red blood cells to transport oxygen to all tissues and parts of the body. Lack of iron in a diet and/or regular loss of blood can lead to iron deficiency anemia which in its turn can be a cause of ovulatory infertility in women. In one long-term study it was demonstrated that the risk of ovulatory infertility was lower in women who took supplements that contained iron.

Iron (ferrous) sulfate is of the best-studied forms of iron supplementations. It is recommended that you take it together with vitamin C which can increase its absorption in the intestines. What’s more, it is believed that supplements that contain calcium or zinc (as well as coffee, tea, and soy) can inhibit iron absorption: do not take them together with your iron supplementation. It is recommended that you take iron supplements on an empty stomach or only with a small amount of food for unhampered absorption. 

There is an upper limit to the daily amount of iron that can be absorbed by the body. Do not exceed the daily dose of 2 to 6 mg of iron per kilogram of body mass (equals 4.5 to 13 mg per pound) to avoid a risk of iron poisoning. If you weigh 60 kilograms (approximately 130 pounds) the upper limit of your safe daily iron intake lies between 120 and 360 mg, and if your weight is 80 kilograms (about 180 pounds) it is between 160 and 480 mg.

As only a small amount of iron can safely be taken and absorbed by the body in a 24-hour period, to markedly elevate its levels in blood you need to take iron supplements for a long time (up to 3 or even 6 months).

Here is one of the best-rated supplements with iron sulfate on iHerb:

Iron, 100 tablets, 65 mg per tablet by Nature’s Bounty

• Laboratory tested
• Convenient dosage
• No artificial colors, sweeteners, or preservatives
• Well-known brand

Keep in mind that oral supplementation of iron can be insufficient in some people who might require intravenous or intramuscular iron therapy.

8. Selenium

Selenium is important for both male and female reproductive systems. 

According to a 2014 report, a deficiency of selenium can make the quality of semen worse and decrease sperm motility. It was shown that supplementation of selenium and vitamin E can improve both sperm motility and semen quality.

In women, selenium deficiency can be a cause of miscarriages and even lead to damage to the immune and nervous systems of the baby. A 2019 study demonstrated that selenium is required for the health of follicular fluid that surrounds the egg cells.

If you want to use supplements that contain selenium do not exceed the tolerable daily upper intake of 400 mcg. Here is one of the top-quality products with selenium on iHerb:

Selenium, 100 tablets, 100 mcg per tablet by Solgar

• No gluten, wheat, or dairy; non-GMO
• L-selenomethionine is a bioavailable form of selenium
• Well-known reputable brand

9. Zink

A 2019 study demonstrated that in women lower plasma zinc and selenium concentrations result in a longer time to get pregnant and might indicate a risk for subfertility.

As semen is very rich in zinc, there is a hypothesis that zinc deficiency in men might lead to infertility. Still, a 2020 study didn’t find any positive effect of zinc supplements on the quality of sperm: it looks like additional research into this matter is required.

You can buy the best supplements to increase fertility on iHerb. Here is one of the most popular products that contain zinc:

Zinc, 250 tablets, 50 mg per tablet by NOW Foods

• Dependable brand
• Non-GMO
• Vegan

10. Multivitamins

Here are the best supplements for reducing TTC (time to conception) laid it out in a table:

Supplements	Women	Men
В vitamins	✔	✔
L-carnitine	✔	✔
Selenium	✔	✔
Vitamin C	✔ (for absorption of iron)	✔ (for sperm quality)
Iron	✔	✕
Vitamin D	✔	✕
Vitamin E	✕	✔
Calcium	✕	✔
CoQ10	✕	✔
Zink	✕	✔

(✔ means that there is an established connection between vitamins/bioactive compounds and fertility; ✕ indicates that no such (or only tenuous) connection was determined)

You might wonder whether you can replace numerous supplements from the table with a single multivitamin formula. Unfortunately, if you are a woman, this might not be the ideal choice:

• Ascorbic acid is necessary to aid the absorption of iron from supplements. In most cases, manufacturers of multivitamins only add regular ascorbic acid or its salts (ascorbates) to their multivitamin products. These forms of vitamin C are very quickly excreted from the body. It is the liposomal form that stays in the bloodstream for a long time and offers much higher bioavailability;
• If your multivitamin formula contains zinc and/or calcium together with iron, the absorption of iron will be significantly hampered;
• Most multivitamins do not contain L-carnitine.

Thus, it can be advised that women purchase separate supplements for fertility and get the most out of them.

On average, anemia is twice less common in men than in women, and there is no established connection between iron levels in men and male fertility. Thus, if you are a man and want to improve your sperm quality, multivitamin formulas have fewer drawbacks for you.

Here is one of the best supplements for preventing infertility in men on iHerb:

ADAM, 180 Softgels by NOW Foods

Pros:

• B vitamins
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Vitamin E
• Also contains saw palmetto extract and plant sterols that are beneficial for prostate health
• Softgel form for optimal bioavailability of fat-soluble vitamins
• Enough capsules for 3 months of use

Cons:

• Does not contain L-carnitine, purchase it separately
• Vitamin C is not in the most bioavailable form; you might want to separately buy its liposomal version
• Does not contain calcium
• Very low (10 mg) content of coenzyme Q₁₀. Purchase it separately.

Lifestyle

Last but not least if you wonder, what is the best fertility supplement to get pregnant, start from leading a healthy lifestyle. Follow these simple tips to increase your chance of conception:

• quit smoking and reduce your consumption of alcohol to an absolute minimum
• do not use illicit drugs of any kind
• add muscle mass if you are underweight and shed unwanted pounds if you are overweight/obese
• fit some regular exercise into your daily routine 
• avoid stress and get enough sleep

Now you know what the best supplements for fertility are. May you be a happy parent! Take care!