Planning a family is an exciting time. Supporting your journey with the right vitamins and supplements can help set you up for success on your fertility journey.

Vitamins play an important role in reproductive health including:

• Menstruation and ovulation
• Egg quality and maturation
• Sperm quality (Brown & Clark, 2020)

Many prenatal vitamins contain vitamins and supplements such as B12, B6 and iron, but what other vitamins are good for fertility? (Progyny 2023)

Both women and men can benefit from vitamins & supplements when trying to get pregnant

When discussing which vitamins are good for fertility, it’s important to note that men and women can both benefit from vitamins and supplements during their family planning journey. 

Better semen quality has been associated with a healthy diet rich in nutrients such as:

• Vitamin D
• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Omega 3 fatty acids (Healthymale.org)

In women, positive fertility outcomes have been linked to a diet rich in nutrients such as:

• Vitamin D
• Folic acid
• Selenium
• Omega 3 fatty acids (Ajmera, 2023)

What are the best vitamins & supplements to boost fertility?

While any vitamin or supplement regime should be first discussed with your doctor, these vitamins and minerals have been positively linked to promoting reproductive health and fertility. 

B Vitamins

B vitamins can promote egg health and help to prevent ovulatory infertility. They have also been linked to improved sperm quality. A study completed using women with a history of pregnancy loss found that those who took supplemental B vitamins along with folate lowered their homocysteine levels.

Higher homocysteine levels (hyperhomocysteinemia) have been linked as a risk factor in cases of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss. (Danielius Serapinas a et al., 2017) (Progyny 2023)

Vitamin C

A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C can help to promote healthy reproductive systems in both men and women. When combined with vitamin E, a study by The Nutrition and Food Security Research Center found that vitamin C improved the number and mobility of sperm.

In women, vitamin C can help to promote normal ovulation and regulate menstrual cycles. (Progyny 2023)

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Also known as Coq10, Coenzyme Q10 has been linked to improved egg quality and thicker uterine linings in women, especially those over 40 years of age. Coq10 should only be taken prior to a pregnancy and stopped once pregnant. (Progyny 2023)

Vitamin D

Thought by some to help improve ovarian stimulation in women and sperm quality in men, Vitamin D is essential for the development of healthy hormones and in turn, fertility. Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly common.

If you have a vitamin D deficiency, taking a supplement is a great way to ensure you’re providing your body with additional support for your fertility journey. (Progyny 2023)

Folic acid

Found in many prenatal vitamins, folic acid has also been linked to improved success in pregnancy by women who are actively trying to get pregnant using natural methods or fertility treatments.

Men may also experience improved sperm quality when taking folic acid. (Progyny 2023)

Iron

Female infertility has been linked to iron deficiency, and taking an iron supplement may help prevent iron deficiency related fertility issues. One long-term study by the Department of Nutrition and Epidemiology showed that supplementing diets with iron appeared to decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility. (WC;, Iron Intake and risk of ovulatory infertility) 

Selenium

Supplementing a healthy diet with selenium may help to support the fertility journey in both men and women. Selenium can help promote healthy uterine follicles, and low selenium has been linked to lower sperm motility and quality in men. (Progyny 2023)

Zinc

Both men and women can benefit from zinc supplements during their fertility journey. In men, zinc deficiency has been linked to the production of low quality sperm. In women, lower levels of zinc in the blood have been associated with conception taking longer than women with higher zinc levels. (Progyny 2023)

Considerations for your own unique situation

Vitamins and mineral supplements are just one of many factors that could impact your fertility. Before starting any vitamin or mineral supplement regime, consult your doctor or healthcare provider to ensure the supplements you’re taking are right for you. 

Best Fertility Vitamins for Women

Best Fertility Vitamins for Men

Summary

Now that we’ve discovered which vitamins are good for fertility, you can speak with your health provider in confidence about choosing a preconception vitamin and supplement regimen to suit your specific needs. 

Click Here to View our Pregnancy vitamins category

References

1. Brown, M.J. (2020) Fertility vitamins to take when trying to conceive, Healthline. Edited by C. Clark. Healthline Media. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/fertility/fertility-vitamins (Accessed: March 4, 2023). 
2. JE;, G.A.J.C. (2017) Diet and Fertility: A Review, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28844822/ (Accessed: March 4, 2023). 
3. Healthymale.org.au (no date) Do male fertility supplements work?, Healthy Male. Available at: https://www.healthymale.org.au/news/do-male-fertility-supplements-work (Accessed: March 4, 2023). 
4. Progyny (2023) The best vitamins and supplements to boost your fertility, Progyny. Available at: https://progyny.com/education/the-best-vitamins-and-supplements-to-boost-your-fertility/ (Accessed: March 4, 2023). 
5. Ajmera, R. (2023) Fertility supplements and vitamins for women: What you need to know, Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/health/family/fertility-supplements-and-vitamins-for-women/ (Accessed: March 4, 2023). 
6. Danielius Serapinas a et al. (2017) The importance of folate, vitamins B6 and B12 for the lowering of homocysteine concentrations for patients with recurrent pregnancy loss and MTHFR mutations, Reproductive Toxicology. Pergamon. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890623817301417?via%3Dihub (Accessed: March 4, 2023). 
7. WC;, C.J.E.R.-E.J.W.R.B.A.W. Iron Intake and risk of ovulatory infertility, Obstetrics and gynecology. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17077236/ (Accessed: March 4, 2023).