Different Kinds Of Herbal Supplements For Fertility

Some women often turn to herbal and natural ways to enhance fertility or to increase their chances of conception. Whether it be because they are not quite at the 1 year mark and are trying to help things along so they don't have to resort to fertility drugs, or if they just don't want to do fertility drugs period, or they are taking a break from the fertility drugs, or, like me, trying something to fill in the time until we can afford an IUI, it has become a very common and often times successful route.

I don't have statistics on success rates so you guys will just have to use good old google for that one, but I can give you a list of some of the most commonly used herbs/supplements women have been using while TTC.

Vitex/Chasteberry- Very popular fertility herb. Often used to regulate hormonal imbalances and is especially helpful for those with PCOS.

Maca-(For men and women)- Great for increasing sex drive, regulating hormones, and increasing energy levels. Supports thyroid function, sexual function, can improve sperm count and motility, and is very safe. MUST be the root as that is the beneficial part for fertility.

Royal Jelly- a substance secreted by nurse worker bee glands helps to balance hormones and support the endocrine system. Royal Jelly has been shown to mimic human estrogen which may help if you suffer from low estrogen. Also may strengthen uterine lining.

Dong Quai- Used as a health tonic for many generations in Asia, this is used for overall health of the uterus and regulating menstrual cycles. Also helps with stress relief. Women with endometriosis can also use this for pain relief associated with endo especially when mixed with Chasteberry, Black Cohosh, or Ginseng.

Red Clover Blossom- Very good for women with endometriosis. High vitamins and protein help with the uterus. Also high in calcium and magnesium which relaxes the nervous system. Also can help with fibroids and balancing hormones. 

Red Raspberry Leaf- Tones the uterus and pelvic muscles. Try mixing with Red Clover to enhance results. 

Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)- Has anti-inflammatory properties which helps with PMS, menopause, breast pain, cramps and it's best known for improving cervical mucus. Taken only from menstruation to ovulation.

Black Cohosh- Used to help stimulate ovulation. Taken only from end of menstruation to ovulation. 

Ginger Root- Aids in moving blood to organs. Reduces cramping and can help with ovarian cysts and endometriosis. 

Flaxseed Oil-(For men and women) Perfect for not only fertility, but overall health. Helps keep sperm healthy and helps improve the uterine lining and helps stabilize estrogen and progesterone. 

On top of these herbs, you can buy pills that contain combinations of these herbs for specific reasons. For example, I'll be using FertileCM while hubby tries Maca. There are a ton of different kinds that you can find either here  or  here for just about anything.

IUI

What is IUI?

Intrauterine Insemination (A.K.A. IUI or AI [artificial insemination]) is usually the first treatment after fertility meds. It's a fairly easy procedure and relatively cheap compared to other alternatives such as IVF.

When is it used?

IUI is typically used in instances of unexplained infertility, cervical mucus problems, and sperm issues (low count or motility).

What goes on during an IUI?

• Typically, but not always, you are given Clomid to stimulate your ovaries. 

• Your follicles will be monitored by ultrasound and when they are of proper size, you will be given an hCG shot to stimulate the release of the eggs. 

• Your partner (if not using a sperm donor) will produce a sample. After, the sperm are "washed" to separate the sperm from the seminal fluid.

• Using a thin tube called a catheter, the doctor will inject the sperm directly into the uterus through your cervix. This process increases the possibility of conception by putting the maximum amount of sperm directly in the uterus.

How successful is IUI?

The average success rate is 10%-20% in one cycle. Women under 35 have higher rates of success than women over 35.

Check out this video on IUI HERE!

Clomid (Clomiphene citrate)

What is Clomid?

Clomid, Serophene, or Clomiphene citrate (it's all the same drug) is an ovulation inducing medication and is one the first treatments given to women who are having trouble conceiving due to ovulatory issues. It's a well known, relatively cheap and effective fertility drug and stimulates ovulation about 80% of the time.

How do I take it?

It's taken as a pill starting anywhere from CD2-CD9 for 5 days (the days you start it depend on your doctor and your response to Clomid). Take it at the same time everyday you take it and I recommend taking it at night before bed to cut down on some of the side effects. Typically, you will take Clomid for 6 cycles and if unsuccessful, move on to other treatment options.

How does it work?

Clomid blocks the estrogen receptors in your brain. It tricks your body into thinking you don't have enough estrogen. Your body then goes into overload and tries to produce more estrogen by producing more gonadotropin releasing hormone or GnRH (GnRH is what stimulates FSH and LH) therefore stimulating the production of FSH. FSH or follicle stimulating hormone is what is needed to ripen the eggs. In a nutshell, Clomid tricks your body into producing more FSH to encourage more follicle growth and more LH to push the eggs out.

Who benefits from Clomid use?

Typically women who are having ovulation problems. Either not ovulating all together or ovulating too late in a cycle.

How do I know I'm ovulating?

Charting! One of the easiest ways to see if you are ovulating is to chart your basal body temperature (BBT). If you're charting and not noticing a clear biphasic pattern, bring your charts to show your doctor. You may not be ovulating.

What dosage will I take?

Typically you'll start at 50mg if it's your very first time taking Clomid (if you've taken it before and know 50mg doesn't work, they will start you on whatever worked for you last time). It goes up in increments of 50 until 200mg. The lowest dose needed is recommended because the higher the dosage, the more it can make your mucus hostile to sperm and cause uterine lining issues.

What are the side effects?

Side effects on Clomid aren't THAT bad but they aren't exactly pleasant. The number 1 side effect I get and that people I know who have taken it have gotten is hot flashes. Oh the hot flashes! It seems to be the general consensus around the internet too. And this also seems to be the one that hangs around the longest (I think I had hot flashes for 3 months after 3 rounds of Clomid). Side effects include:

• Hot flashes
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Hostile cervical mucus
• Mood Swings
• Headaches
• Tender breasts
• Hyperstimulation (OHSS)
• Twins

Did you just write twins as a side effect?

Yes, but it's not really a side effect. It's more like a slight possibility. You have about a 10% chance of having multiples while on Clomid.

How successful is Clomid?

Clomid will get women to ovulate 80% of the time. About 40%-45% will get pregnant in 6 cycles of use.

Clomid Use In Men

Men can also take Clomid to raise testosterone levels and therefore sperm counts. Read more about it here.

Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs)

One of the ways to increase your chances of conceiving is to use ovulation predictor kits (aka OPKs or ovulation tests).


What do OPKs do?

• OPKs show your luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and typically 12-36 hours later your mature egg is released (ovulation). You always have LH in your system so don't be surprised if you always see two lines on your OPK. When your LH is surging you get a positive OPK. A positive is when the test line is darker or as dark as the control line. (Make sure you double check the instructions on the OPKs though). They are not the same as pregnancy tests. 2 lines of varying color do NOT equal a positive. I can't stress this enough!

When should I test?

• Anytime of day is fine but it is recommended that you don't use first morning urine (FMU). LH typically shows up later in the day so testing in the morning may give a misleading result. Just remember to take your OPKs at the same time everyday. You could miss your surge if you don't. (Or you could just do what I do and test twice a day. I'm a bit obsessive lol).

When do I start using OPKs in my cycle?

• If you have regular cycles it will be easy to figure this one out. (It'll be even easier if you've been charting and know about when you will ovulate). If you have the mythical and much sought after 28 day cycle, you should start testing on CD11 so that you don't miss your surge. This would be 3 days before you expect to ovulate. If you've been charting (and I can't recommend doing so enough) you'll know when you ovulate (if you have regular cycles). You should start taking OPKs about 3-4 days before you typically ovulate and BD when you get a positive. If you don't have regular cycles take your shortest cycle subtract 17 days and the number you get will be the day you start testing. (ex. if your shortest cycle is 50 days, start testing on CD 33 or if your shortest cyle is 32 days, start testing on CD15). 

I've gotten a positive! I will ovulate...right?

• Not always. One of the biggest misconceptions is that if you get a positive OPK, you will ovulate. I am perfect proof of that. I frequently get positive OPKs throughout my cycle and don't release an egg. My body typically attempts to ovulate at least 2-3 times before it will succeed (which makes for VERY long cycles of course). OPKs do not tell you that you ovulated. They will only tell you that your body is trying to. You could have a surge and then for some reason not release the egg. The only ways to confirm ovulation are by testing your progesterone levels (blood draw) or by charting.

Why are my OPKs positive many times throughout my cycle?

• The most common cause of frequent positive OPKs throughout a cycle is Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In short, PCOS is an imbalance of the female sex hormones and it causes LH to remain elevated causing positive or near positive OPKs throughout a cycle. If you have extremely long or anovulatory cycles and frequently get positive or near positive OPKs it's something you might want to bring up to your doctor.

Proof Your Temps Are Unreliable For Indicating Pregnancy

I'm on CD32 and 13DPO. Pregnancy test status BFN. Chances are...I'm not pregnant. Unless I implanted REALLY late (which is unlikely), AF should be here in 2-3 days.

But that's not the point of this post. The point is chart obsessing. I LOVE analyzing my chart for every little thing (and there's nothing wrong with this. Do what makes the 2WW go faster for you). And Fertility Friend has a nifty little feature that allows you to search charts and then overlay yours on top of theirs. So that's exactly what I did. And this is what I found.

My temps are the ones in purple and the chart I compared it to is in green. That person was pregnant and got their first positive test on 10DPO. I was more and more hopeful by the day. Our temps were SO similar, especially during and right after ovulation. Looking at my chart I had what everyone wants to see. High temps that kept rising and maybe even a possible implantation dip around 10DPO. But unfortunately, I am not pregnant and it doesn't seem likely that I will get a positive in the next few days. (I would love it if it would happen though and would gladly eat my words!) If my temps stay high past 16DPO and I haven't gotten my period yet, I can start to assume that I am in fact pregnant but the timeframe they usually tell you to stick with is 18DPO. If you are 18DPO or more and still haven't gotten AF and your temps are high, you can pretty much be sure you're pregnant. I expect my temp to dive very soon.

Bottom line is, you can obsess all you want over your chart but the only thing that will tell you that you are pregnant is an HPT or a blood test.

Checking Your Cervix

One of the easiest ways to tell if you're in your fertile phase is by checking your cervix. Don't worry, it's not as difficult as you think and once you start doing it, it'll become second nature.

• Check your cervix at the same time every day. (It can be naturally lower at night which is why it is important to check at the same time every day).
• Wash your hands first! You certainly don't want to get an infection.
• Find the position that works for you. It can be sitting on the toilet, putting a leg up on the toilet or tub or even squatting.
• You'll find your cervix at the very "top" of your vagina. It's best to first start checking your cervix after your period because it will be at it's lowest and easiest to find. It may not be exactly straight up (mine is more to the left) but with a little searching and practice you'll find it right away. It will feel different from the rest of your vagina being a bit harder and smoother.
• During non fertile times, your cervix will be low, firm, and closed. As you get closer to ovulation, your cervix starts to rise and get softer. It is considered most fertile when it is high, soft, and open(HSO).  The best explanation I've heard is when it is firm, it feels like the tip of your nose. When it is soft, it feels more like pressing on your lip.
• You'll also notice more fertile cervical mucus when it is HSO. Checking  your cervical fluid while checking your cervix is like killing two birds with one stone. I always check my cervical fluid before I pee and then empty my bladder and then check my cervix. I've found that my cervix is much higher when my bladder is full and can give misleading results.
• Don't expect to start checking your cervix and have it all figured out the first month you try it. It may take a few months to get the hang of it and it's best when you check your cervix while temping or using OPKs. You can even use a ferning test (More on that later!)
• Don't be alarmed if you find your cervix always feels a bit open. Especially if you already have a child. You will still be able to tell the difference between non fertile and fertile times.
• Avoid checking your cervix during or after sex because your cervix can move around based on your level of arousal.

Signs Of Ovulation

Keep In Mind Not Every Woman Will Experience These Signs. But You Will Definitely Notice The More You Pay Attention To Your Body, The More You May Experience

• Change in cervical fluid (Most fertile being like egg whites [EWCM])
• Change in cervical position and cervical firmness (Most fertile is high, soft, open)
• Brief twinge of pain or dull ache that is felt on one side of the abdomen
• Light spotting (Not all women get this)
• Increase in sex drive
• Elevated level of the luteinizing hormone which can be detected on a test (Ovulation test aka "OPK")
• Body temperature chart that shows a consistent change (Temp rise that will occur day after ovulation but need 3 days of a sustained temp rise to confirm)
• Breast tenderness
• Abdominal bloating
• Heightened sense of vision, smell or taste