Boosting Fertility Naturally: The Role of B12, Folic Acid, and Other Essential Supplements

Posted on July 25, 2023

In addition to maintaining a balanced diet, staying active, and steering clear of certain habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, incorporating a daily vitamin B12 supplement into your routine could contribute to improved fertility and overall reproductive function. Other supplements, particularly folic acid, may also promote crucial female and male reproductive health properties, including egg and sperm quality, conception, and pregnancy. Your general health and wellness may also be improved.

Fertility Health Benefits of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is an essential water-soluble B vitamin considered crucial for female fertility, with deficiencies shown to affect ovulation, cell division, egg development, and implantation. For men, deficiencies may contribute to problems with sperm health and quality, libido, premature ejaculation, and DNA damage.

Vitamin B12 is also vital for developing infant brains, and mothers’ deficiencies may increase babies’ risks for low birth weight, developmental abnormalities, and anemia. Sufficient vitamin B12 and folic acid levels may promote egg count and embryo quality. Taking vitamin B12 and folic acid before conception may benefit both natural pregnancies and fertility treatment, including a higher probability of live birth.

Folic Acid and Fertility

Healthcare experts recommend all women of childbearing age take folic acid, which is the supplemental form of folate, also known as vitamin B9. Folic acid may boost fertility by improving egg quality, regulating cycles, and supporting sperm health. Folic acid helps to develop the neural tube, preventing major birth defects. Supplementation before conception and through early pregnancy may reduce birth defect development by up to 60%. Men may also benefit, as folic acid may promote sperm health and count and help with erectile dysfunction.

Additional Supplements For Fertility Support

In addition to B12 and folic acid, there are several other supplements that may boost fertility, improve conception rates, and increase the chances of having a healthy, successful pregnancy.

CoQ10

CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or Ubiquinone, may benefit egg quality, sperm health and quality, ovulation, and conception. It’s associated with higher pregnancy success rates for fertility treatments, like in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Inositol

A natural sugar, inositol’s forms include the antioxidant myo-inositol, which may promote egg and embryo quality, sperm development and quality, hormonal function, pregnancy, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Omega-3

A healthy fat family, omega-3 fatty acids include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). They’ve been shown to promote sperm health and function, ovulation, hormonal production, egg quality, pregnancy, and fetal and infant development.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid, is involved in various reproductive health benefits, both alone and when working with vitamin E. Among these are egg and sperm health and quality, ovulation, conception, erectile dysfunction, and reducing birth defect risks.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is involved in egg and sperm health, hormonal health (like testosterone), pregnancy, and IVF.

Supplements for Your Fertility Journey in 2023

With infertility impacting about 9% of men and about 11% of women of reproductive age in the United States, many individuals and couples are taking daily supplements to support their fertility health. This may be wise, as food sources alone may not provide adequate nutritional levels. Additionally, nutrients like folic acid are better absorbed in supplemental form.

As part of our commitment to supporting our patients across all facets of fertility care, Reproductive Biology Associates is partnered with NutraBloom®, as their fertility supplement formulas are expertly crafted to support your reproductive health no matter where you are in your fertility journey. These products were created and developed by fertility experts and physicians based on solid scientific evidence and research. NutraBloom products are clinical-grade nutraceuticals in their optimal forms and amounts, free from contaminants, never tested on animals, and evaluated for purity by an outside laboratory.

You can find B12, folic acid, and other fertility-boosting nutrients in the following NutraBloom Kits:

To find a more comprehensive list of products, visit NutraBloom®.

Whether actively trying to conceive or simply planning ahead, daily supplementation may support your fertility health goals. If you’re interested in learning more about fertility-boosting supplements, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Reproductive Biology Associates for comprehensive fertility care and to visit NutraBloom®’s website for more information.