Published on July 20th, 2024 and Updated on October 24th, 2024
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Before the invention of modern medicine, human cultures around the world used botanical ingredients to treat all sorts of ailments. Herbal remedies have been traditionally used for reproductive health for centuries. Now, many people turn to fertility treatments and fertility supplements to improve their reproductive health. But when it comes to getting pregnant, can plants and herbs still be used to help enhance your chances of conception?
Unfortunately, though interest in herbs for fertility is growing, much of the science is still playing catch-up. Limited scientific studies endorse herbs’ ability to boost fertility. However, some studies do show potential and may be relatively safe to use while you’re trying for a baby. Incorporating a fertility herb or an herbal supplement might support your fertility journey.
If you’re struggling to conceive, you’re likely to find the most support by consulting a healthcare provider or fertility specialist. Learning how to choose an OBGYN can help you meet a doctor who is educated about reproductive health, and can guide you on where to start your journey. That said, with their go-ahead, a select few herbs may be useful in supporting your sexual well-being and full-body health.
Fertility Herbs to Get Pregnant: Do They Work?
First things first: can herbs be used to help enhance fertility?
As of today, there is limited scientific evidence that herbs alone can measurably improve either male or female fertility. The most decisive factor in fertility is age: women are most fertile during their 20s, with fertility levels falling off around age 32 (when ovarian reserves typically begin to decline).
Additionally, fertility can be impacted by a host of other factors, including:
- Living with a preexisting health condition, whether a reproductive condition or an STI
- Lifestyle factors like nutrition, weight, exercise, medications, and fitness level
- Use, misuse, or abstinence from recreational substances (e.g. alcohol)
- Exposure to environmental agents, like chemicals
With this in mind, no single herb or supplement can counteract fertility trends associated with the human life cycle. That said, research into the field is ongoing, and many traditional cultures have been using plants and herbs to advance “the circle of life” for years.
5 Herbs that May Support Getting Pregnant
If you’re interested in using herbs to support your overall health and reproductive cycles, the following options could help support you on your journey to becoming a parent. However, remember to always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.
#1 Vitex
Vitex, also known as chaste tree or chasteberry, is an herb that’s frequently used to support hormonal well-being, especially in women. It also has a long history of use in treating infertility in women, and modern scientific evidence appears to reinforce these applications.
It’s thought that vitex works by regulating levels of four key hormones involved in reproduction:
- Estrogen
- Progestin
- FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
- LH (luteinizing hormone)
Its general ability to moderate female reproductive cycles means vitex can also be used to help assuage other hormonal complaints among women. In particular, it may be effective for:
- Counteracting depression and mood swings associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Reducing menopausal symptoms
#2 Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an herb extensively used in Ayurvedic medicine for its ability to improve (primarily) male sexual health. It’s known as an adaptogen, which means it helps quell and regulate the human stress response.
Ashwagandha may be involved in several systems and processes impacting fertility. These may include:
- Regulating the endocrine system, including evening out cortisol levels
- Promoting testosterone production in men
- Enhancing libido in both men and women
- Boosting self-lubrication of the vagina
- Promoting sperm production and sperm health (including motility and sperm count)
- Remedying erectile dysfunction
Fertility issues can often benefit from holistic approaches like herbal supplements. The majority of research on ashwagandha’s influence pertains to male fertility and sexual health. That said, if you’re partnered, including ashwagandha in your partner’s regimen may help boost your shared fertility.
#3 Shatavari
Shatavari is a traditional herb of Ayurvedic medicine originating in South Asia. It’s primarily been used to boost female fertility by systemically supporting female reproduction, though it may also be used to treat:
- Menopausal symptoms
- PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
- Cell damage caused by oxidative stress
Like ashwagandha, shatavari is considered an adaptogenic herb: it helps to regulate various systems of the body by evening out the stress response. The science surrounding the relationship between stress and fertility is divisive, as infertility itself can lead to anxiety and depression. However, researchers have found that lowering stress levels in women struggling to conceive is linked to a significant hike in pregnancy rates.
Whether the link between stress and fertility struggles is causal, it’s safe to say that lowering stress levels can have a major impact on your overall—and reproductive—health. With that, incorporating adaptogens like shatavari could be helpful in your journey to becoming a parent.
#4 Wild Yam
In herbal medicine, wild yams are most commonly used to correct hormonal imbalances. In fact, they’re frequently used as a natural substitute for estrogen therapy in women, even though evidence of their effectiveness has not been established. However, there is some evidence to suggest wild yam could enhance one dimension of fertility: your ability to have twins!
Research from Yale University suggests a connection between yam consumption and multiple pregnancies. Researchers believe consumption of yams could lead to increased ovulation, resulting in a higher incidence of twin pregnancies among those who regularly consume them.
#5 Dong Quai
Dong quai is a widely-used herb from TCM, or traditional Chinese medicine. It has a variety of uses from quelling pain to muscle relaxation, but it’s also used to remedy female reproductive issues like dysmenorrhea or irregular menstrual cycles.
Some irregularity in menstrual cycles is normal, but persistent irregularity could point to an underlying issue. It could also simply make it difficult to determine your fertile window—the period of time when you’re most likely to get pregnant.
In TCM, dong quai is known as “the female ginseng.” It’s a powerful herb that should only be used in consultation with a healthcare provider (and, if you like, a TCM practitioner). That said, with guidance, this herb may help facilitate regularity in your reproductive cycles and help improve your chances of getting pregnant.
A Safety Note on Supplements When Trying for a Baby
Concerning any herb or supplement, it’s always extremely important to consult with a healthcare provider before integrating it into your routine—especially if you’re trying to get pregnant. Fertility supplements can be part of a comprehensive approach to reproductive health.
Herbal supplements may seem like a natural and potentially effective way to boost fertility, but herbal supplements aren’t tested or regulated by the FDA. Because of this, supplements can vary widely in dosage and quality, as many brands use differing manufacturing and distribution methods. If you feel wary about approaching fertility herbs, there are a multitude of vitamins to get pregnant fast. Vitamins are evaluated and reviewed by the FDA, so they can give you peace of mind.
On the whole, the safety and efficacy of herbal supplements (and herbs themselves) still isn’t well-established. If you’re working towards overcoming fertility challenges, other fertility treatments may be better suited to help you meet your goals.
How to Support Fertility Holistically
If you’re struggling to conceive, the first resource to consult is your healthcare provider. They can assess you and your partner’s physical health, run tests, and help determine which factors could be making conception difficult.
In the meantime, pouring focus into the following lifestyle habits may help put you on track to getting pregnant:
- Maintain a healthy weight – People who are obese or overweight are more likely to meet challenges when trying to get pregnant. Having a high weight can contribute to PCOS in women and a lower sperm count and quality in men. If your healthcare provider thinks weight loss could help you get pregnant, aim to adopt a healthy diet and exercise regimen to support your journey.
- Balance your nutrition – A balanced diet rich in whole, nutritious foods can greatly support total-body health and reproduction.
- Improve your stress levels – Whether you use adaptogens or not, learning to self-regulate and reduce stress may bear significantly on fertility. Whether you introduce small changes like mindfulness exercises or seek out a less high-stress job, modifying your lifestyle to lower stress levels may help support fertility holistically.
- Avoid recreational substances – If possible, consider stopping any use of mood-changing substances (if you use them). Alcohol, recreational drugs, and even tobacco have been found to cause hormonal imbalance, diminish the ovarian reserve, and even damage reproductive organs.
- Stay on top of your menstrual cycles – Knowing the rhythms of your reproductive cycle is crucial if you’re trying to conceive. In particular, you can determine when you ovulate by using an ovulation tracker or fertility awareness methods like tracking cervical mucus or basal body temperature.
- Consider fertility testing – In the clinical world, infertility is defined as having difficulty getting pregnant if you’ve been trying for a baby for more than 1 year. Causes of infertility can be difficult to discern, but the good news is that people who struggle to get pregnant independently may still be able to conceive with the help of assisted reproductive technology. It’s important to remember that herbal remedies can be explored alongside fertility treatments. Loop in with your doctor and explore the options available.
Remember, whether or not you use herbs as an ally, there’s no “right” or single way to go about getting pregnant. With a conscious and curious approach, you can start building your life as a parent long before your little one arrives.
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Katie Smith is a seasoned Certified Nurse Midwife and a nurturing mother to six children, offering a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience. She is the founder of Birth Your Way Midwifery and Women’s Wellness Center in Bay County, Florida. Katie's comprehensive approach to care is informed by her hands-on experience in motherhood and her passion for empowering women through their birthing journey. Her dedication extends beyond her center as she actively engages in community wellness and family health education.
Sources:
- Healthline. What’s the Best Age to Get Pregnant? https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/best-age-to-get-pregnant
- National Institutes of Health. What lifestyle and environmental factors may be involved with infertility in females and males? https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/causes/lifestyle
- Mayo Clinic. Female fertility: Why lifestyle choices count. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/female-fertility/art-20045887
- Verywell Health. Can Vitex Supplements Support Hormonal Health? https://www.verywellhealth.com/vitex-what-should-you-know-about-it-89530
- National Library of Medicine. Female infertility and herbal medicine: An overview of the new findings. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8498057/
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- Medical News Today. Health benefits of shatavari. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322043#uses-of-shatavari
- National Library of Medicine. The relationship between stress and infertility. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6016043/
- Healthline. Does Wild Yam Root Have Any Benefits? https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/wild-yam-root
- Yale School of Medicine. What’s in a yam? Clues to fertility, a student discovers. https://medicine.yale.edu/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/whats-in-a-yam-clues-to-fertility-a/
- Mount Sinai. Dong quai. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/dong-quai
- Harvard Health Publishing. Making fertility-friendly lifestyle choices. https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/making-fertility-friendly-lifestyle-choices
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