The potential for you to get pregnant can weight heavily on your mind when you and your partner want a baby. Understanding how to boost your fertility may improve your chances of conceiving, whether you turn to pharmaceuticals and other reproductive technology or you're interested in more natural ways of increasing your fertility, like ovulation calendars or nutrition. Herbal remedies are another option you may consider to help you conceive. Always consult a health care professional before taking any herb or herbal supplement.
Dong Quai
Consider including the Chinese herb dong quai to your daily diet. Dong quai, also known as tang-kuei and Chinese angelica, may help you increase your changes of becoming pregnant, according to the Women Fitness website. It is particularly effective if you have a hormonal imbalance involving too much estrogen. The Trying to Conceive website points out that having an overabundance of estrogen can result in a condition in which endometrial tissue breaks off from the uterine lining and interferes with the release of an egg from your ovaries or prevents implantation of a fertilized egg on your uterine wall. Dong quai may reduce the level estrogen in your body to prevent these tissue problems. Before starting to take dong quai, you should consult your physician.
Evening Primrose
Long in use as an herbal remedy for a variety of maladies, evening primrose may help you boost your fertility. According to the Health News website, oil from the seeds of this herb can help your body produce cervical mucus. The website of Dr. Eric Daiter, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist in private practice, cervical mucus plays a vital role in fertility by helping to create an agreeable environment for sperm in your vagina. BabyHopes indicates that when evening primrose oil encourages the production of quality cervical mucus, the mucus helps sperm survive for up to five days in the fallopian tubes, increasing the possibility of getting pregnant. You should talk to your physician before taking evening primrose oil.
Wild Yam
Wild yam is considered an herb beneficial for contraception, but when taken in small doses and at the right time in your ovulation cycle it may help you get pregnant. StorkNet recommends taking 10 to 20 drops of wild yam tincture or 1 cup of wild yam tea daily for this purpose, reporting that taking wild yam approximately two weeks prior to ovulating can increase your levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, both of which help your body prepare your eggs for fertilization. According to the JustMommies website, proponents say wild yam may also encourage your body to have twins. No evidence exists to support this theory. Consult your doctor before taking any herbal supplement, including wild yam.
References
- Trying to Conceive: Dong Quai Fertility
- Women Fitness: Top 10 to Conceive Naturally With Herb Aid
- DrDaiter.com: Pelvic Factor Infertility
- HealthNews: Evening Primrose Oil for Infertility
- BabyHopes: Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) -- Its Role In Trying to Conceive
- StorkNet: Feeling Frisky? Herbs For Fertility
