Women who have not been able to achieve pregnancy after several cycles will often turn to medical or natural means in order to make their dreams come true. While some pregnancy issues can only be resolved through progressive and technical means, such as in vitro fertilization, other women claim to have experienced success by using various medicinal herbs that are said to aid in fertility, including evening primrose oil.
What It Is
Evening primrose oil, or EPO, is an natural essence derived from the evening primrose plant, a North American wildflower. It is not actually related to the primrose family, but looks similar to the English primrose. Prized for centuries as a curative wonder, this plant has high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids that help address ailments such as menstrual cramps, high cholesterol and infertility issues. In cases of infertility, the oil improves the quality of the cervical fluid at the time of ovulation.
How It Works
Evening primrose oil has fatty acids known as gamma linolenic acids, similar to omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil. These acids, which are turned into prostaglandins in the body, have anti-inflammatory effects, taking away pain and cramps. EPO helps to increase your cervical fluid and improve its quality, transforming it from dry and sticky to wet, thin, clear and stretchy, like egg whites. This type of cervical mucus at the time of ovulation is ideal for sperm to achieve its mission.
Benefits
EPO aids your fertility in two ways. The clear, watery cervical mucus you produce from your cervix helps sperm make their way into your uterus to meet your egg as you ovulate. As you get closer to ovulation, hormones send messages to your body to produce cervical fluid as a medium for sperm to swim through the cervix and get to your egg. Cervical fluid also acts to preserve the sperm in your uterus even before ovulation, awaiting the egg and increasing your fertile window.
Warnings
EPO should only be taken from day one of your cycle up through ovulation in the correct dosage, which a medical practitioner or herbalist will determine. Too much can cause uterine cramps, and cramping can lead to miscarriage. If taken after ovulation, EPO could interfere with implantation. Synchronize taking EVO with temperature charting to confirm a thermal shift and to know when ovulation has occurred.
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