If you've decided you would like to try to conceive a child, it's natural to want to do so as quickly as possible; you may be looking for a supplement to help you conceive. Further, if you're having trouble conceiving, you may wonder whether there's anything you can do to speed the process. Herbs, however, aren't the answer.
Conception
Getting pregnant requires that a series of events happen in exactly the right way at exactly the right time, which is why it's no wonder that many healthy women and their partners take up to a year to conceive. When you ovulate--which occurs once a month or so--the egg is only viable for about 24 hours. It must meet healthy sperm during that time, and then successfully travel to the uterus and implant.
Herbal Supplements
If you're wondering whether there are herbs that can help the process along, the answer is simply that there is no scientific evidence that any herbs will influence conception in a positive way. Part of the reason there's no evidence is that it's ethically challenging to do research on pregnant women and those trying to conceive; it may be that someday there will be scientific evidence to support herbal conception aids, but as of 2011, no potential herbs have been identified.
Safety
A further issue associated with using herbal supplements to aid conception is that per the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the FDA regulates herbs differently than it regulates food and pharmaceuticals. Manufacturers of herbal supplements don't need to prove safety or efficacy prior to marketing their products in the U.S. This means that even if you see an herb sold as a conception aid, there's no proof required that it works--or that it's safe.
Conception Aids
If you've been actively trying to conceive for a year and haven't gotten pregnant, you may wish to see a doctor to get a check-up; your partner may need a check-up as well. Otherwise, however, the only thing you can do to try to optimize your chances of conceiving quickly is to make sure you and your partner are at healthy weights, that you get ample physical activity and that you both eat healthy, balanced diets.
References
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
- "Conception, Pregnancy and Birth"; Miriam Stoppard, M.D.; 2008
- FDA: Dietary Supplements
