The 7 Best Fertility Supplements of 2023, According to a Dietitian

Is a Fertility Supplement Beneficial?

For all persons wanting to conceive, diet and other healthy lifestyle habits are of utmost importance and a first line of defense when it comes to one’s fertility. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, and experiencing large fluctuations in weight should be considered when evaluating one’s risk of infertility. These factors are likely not going to be negated by supplementation; however, a fertility supplement could be helpful for other reasons or specific groups of people.

It’s important to remember the ability to conceive impacts the partner who produces the sperm just as much as it impacts the partner who produces the eggs, so supplementation can be considered for both parties. “No one eats perfectly 100% of the time, so supplements can help "fill in the gaps" nutrient-wise and help us make great strides towards optimized fertility and healthy conception.” says Cory Ruth, MS, RD, PCOS expert and owner of The Women’s Dietitian.

Specific groups of people at risk for infertility or those with certain conditions who would benefit from fertility supporting supplements are:

• Those following a Western, vegetarian, or vegan diet
• Those with endometriosis
• Those with Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Those of advanced maternal age (older than age 35)
• Those with a history of multiple miscarriages
• Those with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)
• Those with premature ovarian insufficiency 
• Those who have functional hypothalamic amenorrhea 
• Those with testicular or ejaculatory dysfunction that impacts sperm count and/or quality (ex. varicocele, trauma to the testes, chemotherapy)
• Men with medical conditions such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and other autoimmune disorders

Supplement Considerations for  Infertility

As a foundation to support fertility, Godfrey recommends a good quality prenatal vitamin for all women and a multivitamin for men to provide a “safety net” of getting adequate nutrients in addition to eating a well balanced diet.

Here are examples of conditions for infertility and specific supplements—although not an exhaustive list—that may be beneficial for each condition, although more research is needed in many of these areas.

Remember, this is where some research may indicate these supplements might help in certain circumstances. Some can have serious side effects, so always speak with a healthcare professional before trying any fertility-related supplement to discuss overall need, safety, and proper dosage.

• Vegetarians or vegans: Following a vegetarian or vegan eating pattern likely means that “your eating routine may be more likely to be lacking in the vital fertility nutrients necessary for healthy perinatal development” says Godfrey. 
• Potentially beneficial supplements: B vitamins, iodine, zinc, calcium
• Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility that impacts 7 million women in the US. This condition occurs when the endometrial lining of the uterus attaches itself inappropriately to other organs outside the uterus. These deposits of tissue outside the uterus have no way of leaving the body during menstruation and can become aggravated, bleed, and form painful scar tissue which impacts ovulation and fertility. Certain supplements may help decrease inflammation, decrease pain, slow down disease progression, and improve egg quality.
• Potentially beneficial supplements: vitamin D, curcumin, NAC, alpha lipoic acid, melatonin, CoQ Q10
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is one of the most common endocrine diseases impacting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by having excessive androgen (male sex hormones) levels, missing or delayed periods, and/or cystic ovaries, which can lead to menstrual dysfunction or infertility. For PCOS, Ruth says, “Supplements that help to stabilize hormone levels, lower insulin resistance, and thus improve ovulation regularity could be considered.”
• Potentially beneficial supplements: inositol, n-acetylcysteine (NAC), vitamin D
• Irregular or missing periods: There can be many reasons why women experience irregular periods, but two of the most common conditions are PCOS and functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). Supplementation may be beneficial for FHA, but ultimately eating enough, reducing physical activity, and managing stress help address underlying root issues.
• Potentially beneficial supplements: folate, berberine, adaptogens such as rhodiola 
• Advanced maternal age: The ability to produce eggs starts to decline at age 35, so those seeking a pregnancy after this time might benefit from supplements that boost egg production, quality or to support IVF. Godfrey says, “CoQ10 is one supplement that may be extra beneficial for someone who is 35 years of age or older. Although our body makes CoQ10 (and it occurs naturally in most cells in the body), the ability to make it as well as the absorption declines with age. Adequate CoQ10 may be linked to egg quality.”
• Potentially beneficial supplements: CoQ10, DHEA 
• Those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF): During IVF, the goal is to have a high quality embryo and then a successful implantation of that embryo. Certain supplements may help with egg/embryo quality, and others will help boost the quality of the uterine lining by improving existing blood flow, dilating blood vessels to deliver key nutrients, or promoting the growth of new blood vessels to nourish the initial growth of the embryo.
• Potentially beneficial supplements: folate, vitamin E, L-arginine
• Male factor infertility: If male infertility is suspected, the first step is usually a semen analysis. Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LDN, CLEC, CPT and author of Fueling Male Fertility says, “Some data suggests that taking certain supplements may support male fertility by increasing sperm motility, morphology, count, and/or reducing DNA damage. Among the data, I find the strongest evidence leans toward taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements. These healthy fats are primarily found in oily coldwater fish. But since most Americans are not eating the recommended amount of this food type, taking a supplement can help fill gaps and allow a man to reap the benefits.” 
  
  She also notes, “Some data suggests that antioxidant supplementation may offer some benefit, although more data is needed.”
• Potentially beneficial supplements: omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, CoQ10, carnitine

Fertility Supplements To Be Cautious About

Every woman and man looking to support his or her fertility has unique needs, so catch-all “fertility supplements'' should be approached with caution as they may not be supporting your root cause. Ruth says that for PCOS specifically, “[PCOS] looks different on everyone, so I find money spent on fancy expensive blends that claim to help ALL women with PCOS’s hormones can usually be better spent elsewhere.”

Fertility supplements are similar to any other class of supplements in that they are not regulated by the FDA and so may not contain the actual ingredients listed on the label, or in the amounts advertised. Always speak with your healthcare provider about taking any supplements if you are thinking about or trying to conceive.

How We Select Supplements

Our team works hard to be transparent about why we recommend certain supplements; you can read more about our dietary supplement methodology here. 

We support supplements that are evidence-based and rooted in science. We value certain product attributes that we find to be associated with the highest quality products. We prioritize products that are third-party tested and certified by one of three independent, third party certifiers: USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab.com.

It's important to note that the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they go to market. (include this citation link) Our team of experts has created a detailed, science-backed methodology to choose the supplements we recommend.

What to Look For

Third-Party Testing

Supplements that are third-party tested are sent to a lab where they are tested to ensure they contain what they say they contain and are not contaminated with specific high-risk, common contaminants. However, it’s important to note:

1. Third party testing does not test to see if a product is effective or safe for everyone, and it does not ensure the supplement will not interact with other supplements or medications.
2. Not all third-party testing is created equal. It is not uncommon for supplement companies to pay labs for certificates after conducting minimal to no testing. 
3. The third party certifications we can trust are: ConsumerLab.com, NSF, and USP. However, these certifications are difficult to obtain and/or expensive for manufacturers, so many companies choose not to get their products tested by one of these three organizations. 
4. Sometimes products tested by these three companies are more expensive to try to offset the cost they pay for certification.
5. Just because a supplement is not tested by one of these three companies, it does not mean it’s a bad product. We recommend doing some research on the reputability of the manufacturer, and calling up the manufacturer and their testing lab to determine their protocols and decide if you feel comfortable consuming the supplement.

Form

Fertility supplements, which can be vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other nutrient compounds, can be found in pill, gummy, powder, or liquid form. Supplements that contain multiple ingredients or “bulky” nutrients are less likely to come in easier to tolerate gummy or liquid forms, so this is something to consider when shopping. 

Ingredients & Potential Interactions

It is essential to carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included, relative to the recommended daily value of that ingredient. Please bring the supplement label to a healthcare provider to review the different ingredients contained in the supplement and any potential interactions between these ingredients and other supplements and medications you are taking.

Some fertility supplements may contain nutrients that interact with medications, or compete for absorption with other nutrients, so it’s wise to review these products with a healthcare provider before taking. You may also find other herbs, probiotics, raw food ingredients, and sugars added into fertility supplements, which may be concerning for certain health conditions you may have. Always speak with your healthcare provider to discuss potentially taking any of these products. 

Fertility Supplements Dosages

Research is ongoing for how dietary supplements impact fertility and the recommended doses of each nutrient. There are few evidence-based recommendations for the dosages of these products. For some vitamins, like vitamin D and folate, fertility specialists will often suggest doses that go above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), but no official recommendations have been set.

If you have a question about the best recommended dose you should take of a fertility supplement, consult a healthcare professional. 

How Much is Too Much?

You may notice when looking at fertility supplements that the amounts for some nutrients are often exceptionally higher than the percent Daily Value (DV). More research is needed to say at what levels many of these supplements are safe or provide benefit, so always discuss these products with a healthcare provider before taking them. 

It’s also important to consider if you have a true deficiency of a nutrient (this can be verified by obtaining blood work), if you have absorption issues, or other medical conditions. If you have one (or more) of these, that will play a role in determining what is an appropriate amount of a nutrient to take.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Casey Seiden is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist based out of New York City. Casey works at Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, the premier maternal fetal medicine practice in Manhattan, where she provides nutrition therapy and counseling to women with high risk pregnancies. She is also the founder of Casey Seiden Nutrition, a virtual private practice specializing in a non-diet approach to diabetes care and women’s health.