Fertility problems can be distressing for many individuals and couples. Your physician may recommend fertility drugs, artificial insemination, surgery or assisted reproductive technology to help you and your partner get pregnant, but these therapies can be expensive and time-consuming. There are natural herbal remedies you can try that may boost your fertility. Be sure to consult your physician before embarking on any herbal treatment designed to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Ginger
Ginger may help improve your chances of conceiving by helping a woman regulate her menstrual cycle. If you're experiencing a period of time during which you do not menstruate, this makes it difficult to get pregnant. A range of conditions can cause a lack of menstruation, but proponents report that drinking ginger tea made from a tablespoon of ginger and two cups of water with honey on a daily basis should help restore normal functioning of your menses, according to the Full Health website. Additionally, ginger may affect fertility in men. Research published in the October 2010 issue of The Journal of American Science indicates that diabetic male rats experienced enhanced fertility from taking ginger supplements in combination with cinnamon bark, although scientific proof is far from conclusive -- evidence in the July 2008 issue of the Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences notes that sperm samples exposed to ginger showed lower sperm motility. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that a standard dosage of ginger ranges from 75 to 2,000 mg over the course of a day, and ginger should be taken with food.
Green Tea
Green tea is an herbal remedy that may help you get pregnant. Research published in the April 2004 issue of The Journal of Reproductive Medicine notes that women with fertility problems taking a nutritional supplement containing green tea experienced greater fertility. More studies are needed to determine green tea's true effectiveness for improving your chances of getting pregnant. Green tea may also prove beneficial for your partner -- there is some evidence to suggest taking green tea can improve sperm motility, which can help increase fertility, according to the Mayo Clinic. Research in the August 2010 edition of the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics notes that animal studies show that green tea can protect sperm from damage and increase sperm motility. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that you and your partner either drink two to three cups of green tea per day or take 100 to 750 mg of green tea extract in supplement form.
Tribulus Terrestris
Long in use as an herbal remedy for reproductive issues, Tribulus terrestris may increase fertilty for both you and your partner. The SmartStork website reports that taking Tribulus terrestris from the beginning of your menstrual cycle until you ovulate encourages your ovarian follicles to develop and mature, producing a higher quality egg, which may help you get pregnant. Proponents say that when men take Tribulus terrestris, the herb can increase sperm motility and sperm count. SmartStork recommends a dosage of 250 to 500 mg of Tribulus terrestris per day, taken with a meal. There is no scientific evidence to support these claims, although research published in the April 2003 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine notes that animal studies confirmed a boost in sexual performance from exposure to Tribulus terrestris.
References
- PubMed: The effects of methanolic extracts of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on human sperm parameters
- PubMed: A nutritional supplement for improving fertility in women
- PubMed: Green tea extracts attenuate doxorubicin-induced spermatogenic disorders
- PubMed: Sexual effects of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) extract (protodioscin)
- The Journal of American Science: Effect of Extracts of Ginger Roots and Cinnamon Bark on Fertility of Male Diabetic Rats
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginger
