You could be perfectly healthy and still encounter fertility difficulties. You could also not pay close attention to your health and nutrition and never struggle with fertility.
Every body and every fertility journey is different, and nutritional needs can often vary.
Having said that, one way to improve your fertility and boost your chances of staying healthy—mentally, physically, and emotionally—is to make sure your body is getting the necessary nutrients it needs to function properly.
A common misconception is that prenatal vitamins are the answer to the question—which vitamins are good for fertility?
Prenatal vitamins deliver essential nutrients during pregnancy to make sure both the baby and the individual carrying them are healthy and progressing safely. If the body doesn’t receive the nutrients it needs during these vital months, there is a risk that it will start leeching off the carrier’s nutrients and make the individual carrying the pregnancy weaker in the long term.
Vitamins that are designed for pregnancy, however, must deliver enough nutrients for two developing bodies.
This means that if you are not already pregnant and are eating a balanced diet, a prenatal vitamin will overcompensate and lead to issues that arise from your body receiving more micronutrients than it can handle. They are also designed only for women who are pregnant, but taking care of your body—to improve your fertility or otherwise—is important for everyone regardless of gender.
More than anything, your body needs balance.
Identifying which vitamins are good for fertility
The best way to ensure that you’re getting all the nutrition you need is to go straight to the source. Your body can absorb certain nutrients from the environment itself, like vitamin D after exposure to the sun.
All thirteen vitamins and both major and trace minerals your body needs, however, are absorbed through the food you eat. That’s why there’s no replacement for a balanced and healthy diet.
Depending on your lifestyle, health, and other factors, you may also consider investing in vitamin supplements. Especially if you have plans for the future that will depend on your body performing at its best.
Before you take your pick of vitamins, however, we recommend consulting your doctor or fertility specialist to evaluate your current health.
If you are on medication, certain vitamins may not agree with you. Moreover, if you are already eating a great, balanced diet that is delivering all the macro and micronutrients you need, you may not need to supplement your nutrition with vitamins at all.
Some vitamins that have been known to have a positive effect on enhancing health and fertility are:
- B vitamins for healthier eggs and sperm
- Calcium is essential for overall health as well as in helping improve sperm count
- Vitamin D for sperm and ovarian health
- Folic acid for reproductive health in females
- Vitamin E for improved motility and reproductive health
- Vitamin C for improved motility and sperm counts
- Selenium for the improved quality of semen and reproductive health
By now you may have noticed that when choosing which vitamins are good for fertility, you’re almost always choosing vitamins that are great for your overall health.
That is because, unfortunately, there is no pill that can help individuals overcome more complex fertility struggles. Depending on the reasons for infertility and the types of challenges an individual may face in their fertility journey, the best course of action is always to consult a fertility specialist.
Vitamins and enhanced fertility
Knowing which vitamins are good for fertility may not be the most relevant question to search for the answer to if you, or someone you know, is struggling with their fertility.
Certain fertility challenges can’t be solved through proper nutrition alone, and a fertility specialist will be able to guide you through the next steps you can take to improve your fertility.
In the meantime, remember that taking care of your overall health and ensuring that your body receives the necessary vitamins and minerals in the most natural way possible is the key to maintaining your health in every aspect of your life.
