Supplements that can impact my fertility!

Find out what you really need to know about these important supplements and how they can impact your fertility!

Vitamin D – The Sunshine Vitamin

  • Several studies have shown a link between vitamin D deficiency and infertility  (particularly in women with PCOS).  
  • Vitamin D deficiency is more common than you’d think!  An estimated 30% of reproductive age females are deficient. 
  • Up to 90% of our vitamin D stores come from sun exposure (which is becoming more limited with sunscreens and other beneficial ways we are preventing sun damage and wrinkles) 
  • You can also get vitamin D from fatty fish (sardines, salmon) and eggs 
  • Recommended daily vitamin D is 400IU.  In women who are deficient, it’s recommended to take at least 800IU daily (though consult your doctor for a specific recommendation for you). 

DHA

  • DHA/Fish Oil/Omega 3s all refer to essentially the same nutrients and can be used interchangeably. 
  • DHA is important for fetal brain and eye development. For women who don’t eat a lot of fish, it’s especially good to have it in your prenatal vitamin 
  • There is some data (though limited) that DHA can improve outcomes in women undergoing fertility treatments 

CoQ10

  • Coenzyme Q or CoQ10 is an antioxidant that’s found in fish, some meats, oil, nuts, and seeds. 
  • It is needed in our body to make energy for our cells 
  • As an antioxidant it acts against harmful free radicals that can damage our DNA 
  • The theory behind using CoQ10 to “boost” your fertility is that it may decrease the effects of aging on your ovaries – so this could be helpful particularly in women closer to 40 who are trying to conceive 
  • There is data from several small studies that women taking CoQ10 have a better response to fertility treatments and potentially higher birth rates 

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