Often associated with treating menopausal symptoms, evening primrose oil may also help women on the other end of the spectrum: those trying to conceive. Monitoring your cervical mucus is one way to track your fertility, and this supplement may have beneficial effects on cervical fluids. Talk with your doctor before using evening primrose oil for this purpose, to ensure it is safe and appropriate for you to consume.
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil, or EPO, derives from the seeds of the evening primrose flower. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, these seeds contain nearly 25 percent essential fatty acids beneficial for health, including linoleic acid, or LA; and gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA. EPO has treated skin conditions like eczema, hives and itching, breast pain, menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, and arthritis. A typical dosage is 2 to 8 g daily, standardized to 8 percent GLA, says UMMC. Before taking EPO, talk with your doctor about safety and dosage.
Cervical Mucus
Hormones in your body associated with the menstrual cycle also make cervical mucus. During your cycle, the qualities of this mucus change, and with instruction, women can approximate their ovulation time based on the cervical mucus. Right after your period, mucus production may be absent for several days. As an egg begins to ripen, your mucus production increases and is usually cloudy and yellow or white, with a sticky texture. Right before ovulation, you produce even more mucus, which is usually clear and slippery. This is when you are most fertile, explains Planned Parenthood.
Effect of EPO on Cervical Mucus
Infertility may be a side effect of a diet deficient in essential fatty acids, according to an article published in the Polish medical journal "Przeglad Lekarski" in 2007. GLA may be especially important to fertility because the body converts it into a prostaglandin, which acts like a hormone. This may help boost fertility by increasing production of cervical mucus, which helps the sperm get to the egg. More research needs to be done on whether EPO is truly effective at boosting fertility and what its specific effects are on cervical mucus. If you are trying to conceive, talk with your doctor about whether EPO can help increase your mucus and aid in fertility.
Considerations
Talk with your doctor about changes in your cervical mucus if you are having trouble conceiving, and discuss any herbal remedies you are thinking about using, including evening primrose oil, before consuming them. Before using EPO, tell your doctor about any other supplements or medications you are taking, to avoid adverse interactions.
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