Vitamins, Supplements & Fertility:
What is Clinically Proven to Help Get You Pregnant?
Below is a summary list of the Vitamins and Supplements clinically proven to help female fertility. To learn more, click on the name of each for details
Prenatal Vitamins
Either over the counter or prescription is fine
Vitamin A
2,600 - 5,000 IUs per day
Limit: Do NOT take more than 10,000 IUs as risk of of birth defects
Usually there is enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Vitamin B6
Minimum 1.9 mg, recommend 50 mg per day
Limit: Mega-doses can cause nerve damage, don’t exceed 100 mgs per day
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Vitamin B12
Minimum 2.6 mcg, recommended 50 – 100 mcg per day
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Vitamin C
Minimum 85 mg, recommended 250–500 mg per day
Limit: Do NOT to take more than 2000 mg per day as it can dry up cervical fluid
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin.
Calcium
1,200 milligrams per day but in two separate doses of 500–700 mg each
Limit: Don’t take more than 2,500 mg per day
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin.
Co-Enzyme Q10
100 – 200 mg per day
NOT contained in your Prenatal Vitamin
Controversial, read more and talk to your Doctor
Ask your doctor if safe to take after a positive pregnancy test!
Vitamin D
Minimum 200 IU, recommended 1-2,000 IU per day
Limit: 50,000 IU per day can be toxic
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
DHEA
25 milligrams 3 x per day
Limit: Don’t exceed recommended 75 mg per day without doctor’s consent
NOT contained in your Prenatal Vitamin
Controversial, read more and talk to your Doctor
STOP taking as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test!
Vitamin E
Minimum 15 mg (22.5 IU), recommended 100-130 mg or 150-200 IU per day
Limit: 1,000 mg (1,500 IU) daily
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Folic Acid
Minimum 400-800 micrograms per day before you start trying to get pregnant.
Limit: Don’t exceed 1,000 mcg daily in supplement form (food is fine)
Usually there is enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Iron
Minimum 30 milligrams per day
Limit: Maximum of 45 mgs per day
Usually there is enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
L-arginine
NOT in your Prenatal Vitamin
The National Institute of Health still considers L-arginine’s effectiveness to be unproven for treating infertility. Others recommend it highly and it is included in popular "Fertility Blend" products. Read more here and consult an expert.
Maca
Maca, the Peruvian root vegetable, is touted on the internet as an aphrodisiac and fertility aid. Little clinical evidence exists to support Maca as a fertility aid. Read more here
Magnesium
320 mg per day
NOT usually enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)
NOT in your Prenatal Vitamin
Not yet widely clinically proven.
Some practitioners recommend 600 mcg of NAC per day, but you shouldn’t take NAC without consulting your doctor about appropriate dosage.
Omega-3 Fish Oil
2,000 - 3,000 mgs per day
Limit: Do NOT take Flaxseed Oil or Cod Liver Oil. No upper limit for Omega-3 Fish Oil supplements except for those taking anti-coagulant drugs, ask your doctor.
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Royal Jelly
NOT contained in your Prenatal Vitamin
Clinically unproven though widely believed to help fertility by naturopaths and Chinese Medicine practitioners. Ask a trained herbalist or Chinese medicine practitioner about dosage, which varies widely.
Selenium
60-100 mcg per day
Limit: 400 mcg per day. Very high doses of selenium can be toxic
Often NOT contained, or not enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Vitex
NOT in your Prenatal Vitamin.
Vitex (Chasteberry) is found in popular “Fertility Blend” products which also includes L-arginine. They are not yet clinically proven to help fertility, but there is ample anecdotal evidence to warrant further research. Read more here and consult a trained herbalist or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner to be sure you are taking in appropriate dosage. Stop taking Vitex when you achieve a positive pregnancy test, as it can be harmful to the fetus.
Zinc
15-25 mg per day, (30 mg for vegetarians)
Limit: 40 mg per day, too high a dose can actually decrease immunity
Usually, but not always, there is enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
What is Clinically Proven to Help Get You Pregnant?
Below is a summary list of the Vitamins and Supplements clinically proven to help female fertility. To learn more, click on the name of each for details
Prenatal Vitamins
Either over the counter or prescription is fine
Vitamin A
2,600 - 5,000 IUs per day
Limit: Do NOT take more than 10,000 IUs as risk of of birth defects
Usually there is enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Vitamin B6
Minimum 1.9 mg, recommend 50 mg per day
Limit: Mega-doses can cause nerve damage, don’t exceed 100 mgs per day
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Vitamin B12
Minimum 2.6 mcg, recommended 50 – 100 mcg per day
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Vitamin C
Minimum 85 mg, recommended 250–500 mg per day
Limit: Do NOT to take more than 2000 mg per day as it can dry up cervical fluid
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin.
Calcium
1,200 milligrams per day but in two separate doses of 500–700 mg each
Limit: Don’t take more than 2,500 mg per day
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin.
Co-Enzyme Q10
100 – 200 mg per day
NOT contained in your Prenatal Vitamin
Controversial, read more and talk to your Doctor
Ask your doctor if safe to take after a positive pregnancy test!
Vitamin D
Minimum 200 IU, recommended 1-2,000 IU per day
Limit: 50,000 IU per day can be toxic
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
DHEA
25 milligrams 3 x per day
Limit: Don’t exceed recommended 75 mg per day without doctor’s consent
NOT contained in your Prenatal Vitamin
Controversial, read more and talk to your Doctor
STOP taking as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test!
Vitamin E
Minimum 15 mg (22.5 IU), recommended 100-130 mg or 150-200 IU per day
Limit: 1,000 mg (1,500 IU) daily
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Folic Acid
Minimum 400-800 micrograms per day before you start trying to get pregnant.
Limit: Don’t exceed 1,000 mcg daily in supplement form (food is fine)
Usually there is enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Iron
Minimum 30 milligrams per day
Limit: Maximum of 45 mgs per day
Usually there is enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
L-arginine
NOT in your Prenatal Vitamin
The National Institute of Health still considers L-arginine’s effectiveness to be unproven for treating infertility. Others recommend it highly and it is included in popular "Fertility Blend" products. Read more here and consult an expert.
Maca
Maca, the Peruvian root vegetable, is touted on the internet as an aphrodisiac and fertility aid. Little clinical evidence exists to support Maca as a fertility aid. Read more here
Magnesium
320 mg per day
NOT usually enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)
NOT in your Prenatal Vitamin
Not yet widely clinically proven.
Some practitioners recommend 600 mcg of NAC per day, but you shouldn’t take NAC without consulting your doctor about appropriate dosage.
Omega-3 Fish Oil
2,000 - 3,000 mgs per day
Limit: Do NOT take Flaxseed Oil or Cod Liver Oil. No upper limit for Omega-3 Fish Oil supplements except for those taking anti-coagulant drugs, ask your doctor.
NOT likely enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Royal Jelly
NOT contained in your Prenatal Vitamin
Clinically unproven though widely believed to help fertility by naturopaths and Chinese Medicine practitioners. Ask a trained herbalist or Chinese medicine practitioner about dosage, which varies widely.
Selenium
60-100 mcg per day
Limit: 400 mcg per day. Very high doses of selenium can be toxic
Often NOT contained, or not enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
Vitex
NOT in your Prenatal Vitamin.
Vitex (Chasteberry) is found in popular “Fertility Blend” products which also includes L-arginine. They are not yet clinically proven to help fertility, but there is ample anecdotal evidence to warrant further research. Read more here and consult a trained herbalist or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner to be sure you are taking in appropriate dosage. Stop taking Vitex when you achieve a positive pregnancy test, as it can be harmful to the fetus.
Zinc
15-25 mg per day, (30 mg for vegetarians)
Limit: 40 mg per day, too high a dose can actually decrease immunity
Usually, but not always, there is enough in your Prenatal Vitamin
