Can fertility supplements really help you get pregnant?

BabyCenter’s series "Going viral" unpacks parenting trends and separates the helpful from the hype.

After six months of trying for a second baby, BabyCenter mom Lauren H. reached out to a well-known fertility acupuncturist in Atlanta for help. Along with acupuncture, Lauren was prescribed a regimen of herbal teas and supplements to boost her fertility. Two months later, she was pregnant. 

Stories like Lauren’s can be found across social media and BabyCenter Community groups. TikToker @hannahleelifestyle credits maca root and inositol supplements for her successful pregnancy with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

On Instagram, @honestmum says inositol and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements improved her egg quality, helping her quickly conceive at age 40. 

“Fertility supplements are very common,” says Bana Kashani, M.D., ob-gyn and reproductive endocrinologist in California. “Many patients come in already taking them based on advice they've seen online, in fertility support groups, and in books.”

But how legitimate are the claims that these vitamin blends not only help you get pregnant but make it happen faster than usual? Here’s what the experts have to say. 

What are fertility supplements? 

A fertility supplement could be just one vitamin or mineral or a specialty blend of vitamins and minerals, specifically marketed as a way to increase your chances of conception. Popular fertility supplements include one or more of the following ingredients:

• Antioxidants like acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, and CoQ10
• Folic acid
• B vitamins, especially B9 and B12
• Vitamin D
• Iron
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Myo-inositol
• Maca root

Can these vitamins help you become more fertile? 

Packaged combinations of vitamins aimed at improving your fertility generally haven’t been evaluated or studied for their effectiveness in improving fertility. They may be third-party tested, but that doesn’t mean they’ll help you conceive.

“Unlike prescription drugs or medical devices, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the effectiveness or production of supplements," says Erika Munch, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist in Texas.

At this point, we don't know if these vitamins and nutrients can increase your chances of pregnancy at all, let alone help you get pregnant faster. Supplements are not a substitute for good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, says Dr. Kashani. If you eat mainly processed foods, smoke, or consume excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine, your fertility may be affected – and a supplement alone won’t fix it.

That said, some popular fertility supplement ingredients may have benefits, but talk to your provider before taking them:

• B vitamins: Several studies link B vitamins, especially B9 (folate) and B12, to better fertility and ovulation, particularly in women with PCOS who might have a harder time conceiving.
• Vitamin D: Some research shows that a vitamin D deficiency can lower fertility, while others suggest that supplementing with vitamin D can improve pregnancy rates by helping a fertilized egg implant in the uterus during conception. 
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats found in many foods and health supplements. Some research says omega-3s can help regulate hormones, improve egg quality, and reduce inflammation.
• Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): CoQ10 is an antioxidant that can prevent damage to ovarian eggs, helping maintain better egg quality, says Dr. Kashani. “These would usually be recommended during an infertility workup with a reproductive endocrinologist and aren’t appropriate for everyone,” Dr. Kashani adds. Diminished ovarian reserve often shows up on fertility testing as low levels of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH).  
• Myo-inositol: This sugar alcohol, which is found in some foods, helps regulate hormones and insulin levels. Many of the studies looking at myo-inositol’s effectiveness suggest it can help women with insulin and hormone imbalances like PCOS become more fertile. You'll want to treat these conditions under the supervision of your provider, though, especially if you’re trying to get pregnant.  

Unlike prescription drugs or medical devices, the FDA does not regulate the effectiveness or production of supplements.

- Erika Munch, M.D., reproductive endocrinologist 

What supplements should you actually take while TTC? 

Most experts recommend taking prenatal vitamins at least a month before getting pregnant. 

Standard prenatal vitamins include many of the micronutrients needed to support a growing pregnancy, says Dr. Munch, including iron, folic acid, calcium, iodine, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. 

While they may not be able to directly help you conceive, there is also a small amount of research-based evidence that prenatal vitamins can improve your overall reproductive health, making conception (and, hopefully, a healthy pregnancy!) more likely.

The two key ingredients in a prenatal that you’ll want while TTC are folic acid and iron. The typical American diet – full of convenience and prepackaged foods – often leaves many women with deficiencies in folic acid and iron, says Dr. Munch, so supplements can help.

• Folic acid: Folic acid is a building block for all of your body’s cells, says Dr. Kashani, and is also essential for early fetal development. It helps the fetal brain and spine form properly in the first weeks of pregnancy, lowering your baby's risk of birth defects. Some studies suggest folic acid may reduce the risk of miscarriage, too.
• Iron: Not getting enough iron can affect your menstrual cycle, which may make it harder to ovulate and get pregnant. Studies are mixed, but some experts think iron deficiency could be linked to a higher risk of infertility.

Most prenatal vitamins have the right amounts of folic acid and iron to help you have a healthy conception and pregnancy, but if you’re looking for separate supplements, make sure you’re getting 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid per day and a minimum of 27 milligrams of iron per day, says Dr. Kashani.  

Are there risks to taking fertility supplements? 

Supplements that say they have “powerful” amounts of vitamins and minerals in them could be dangerous. "When pregnancy is on the line, taking excessive, unnecessary, or ineffective vitamins isn’t just wasteful," says Dr. Munch. "It could be harmful to you or your baby, should you conceive."

More is not always better, and some supplements may have way too much of one nutrient for your particular body. 

Given what we know (or rather, what we don’t) about the effectiveness of combination fertility-boosting supplements, it might be a better choice to stick with a simple prenatal when TTC, and then figure out whether you’re genuinely deficient in any specific vitamins and nutrients and work with your provider to fill those individual gaps. 

If you’re worried, Dr. Munch says you should schedule an appointment with your provider during the preconception phase to talk about your dietary preferences and nutrient needs; they can order regular blood work to identify common deficiencies or a special blood test to look for micronutrient deficiencies, if necessary.

This will help you target your supplement routine to the nutrients you’re lacking, she adds.

If you have a specific blended supplement you're curious about, bring it to your next appointment or message your provider with the ingredients so they can weigh in.