Vitamins and Minerals for Fertility
Specific vitamins and minerals play a foundational role in supporting fertility, balancing hormones, and preparing the body for a healthy pregnancy. These essential nutrients nourish key components of the endocrine system—including the adrenal glands, thyroid, ovaries, and pituitary—helping to regulate the complex hormonal signals involved in ovulation, implantation, and early fetal development. When used appropriately, vitamins and minerals can also assist in liver detoxification, vital for metabolizing excess hormones and reducing the burden of environmental toxins that may interfere with fertility.
In clinical practice, individualized supplementation with specific vitamins and minerals is significantly more effective than over-the-counter multivitamins. While a high-quality multivitamin can provide general support, it is rarely sufficient to correct a deficiency. The reason is twofold: first, most multivitamins contain a long list of nutrients at doses too low to be therapeutically effective; second, these nutrients are often competing for absorption in the gut. For example, calcium, magnesium, and zinc can all interfere with each other’s absorption when taken together in a single pill. This makes it difficult for the body to fully utilize what’s provided, resulting in minimal impact on nutrient status or hormone function.
Instead of taking a broad-spectrum approach, I focus on identifying and correcting specific deficiencies using functional testing or symptom-based assessments. For instance, if a patient is experiencing irregular cycles, fatigue, and poor egg quality, I may recommend therapeutic doses of vitamin B12, magnesium glycinate, and coenzyme Q10—nutrients that directly support energy metabolism, ovarian function, and egg maturation. Similarly, in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), targeting key vitamins and minerals such as inositol, vitamin D3, and chromium has improved insulin sensitivity and restored regular ovulation.
Beyond helping with conception, vitamins and minerals profoundly impact fetal development and the long-term health of your future child. Numerous studies have linked deficiencies in nutrients like folate, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins to developmental disorders, including ADHD and autism. These deficiencies often result from suboptimal maternal nutrition, exposure to environmental toxins, or unresolved hormone imbalances during the preconception period. Supporting maternal health with the right vitamins and minerals can help minimize these risks and lay a strong foundation for a healthy pregnancy and baby.
For example, folate is essential for proper neural tube development in early pregnancy, but many women do not realize that the form of folate in their prenatal vitamin matters. Synthetic folic acid is not well-utilized by everyone, particularly those with MTHFR gene variants, which are common. That’s why I recommend prenatal supplements containing the active form of folate, 5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate). This version is already converted into the usable form your body needs and is far more effective at supporting healthy methylation, DNA synthesis, and fetal development.
When a patient becomes pregnant, I shift my supplement recommendations to focus on the essentials for supporting a healthy pregnancy. This typically includes a professional-quality prenatal multivitamin that contains active B vitamins, minerals in bioavailable forms, and no unnecessary fillers or additives. I also recommend high-purity fish oil for its anti-inflammatory and brain-supportive omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 to maintain immune balance, support mood, and aid in calcium regulation. Again, the quality and form of these nutrients matter—a poorly absorbed prenatal from the drugstore is not comparable to a well-formulated supplement used in clinical practice.
For women undergoing fertility treatment, such as IUI or IVF, it is imperative to avoid nutrient deficiencies and oxidative stress. Fertility medications can deplete the body of specific vitamins and minerals, particularly antioxidants like vitamin C, selenium, and zinc, which help protect eggs and embryos from cellular damage. Supplementing these nutrients under the guidance of a knowledgeable practitioner can improve treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of complications. Importantly, when used in the correct doses, most vitamins and minerals are safe to continue throughout pregnancy and will only enhance your body’s ability to nourish the growing baby.
The impact of vitamins and minerals extends far beyond the moment of conception. Nutrient status influences everything from egg quality and hormone regulation to the baby’s cognitive development and immune system function. For this reason, I encourage every woman thinking about getting pregnant to begin optimizing her nutrient intake at least three to six months in advance. This proactive approach improves fertility and contributes to a smoother pregnancy and healthier postpartum recovery.
The targeted use of vitamins and minerals is a cornerstone of effective, personalized fertility care. While multivitamins can offer some general support, they are not a substitute for the therapeutic benefit of individualized supplementation. Identifying and correcting nutrient imbalances before and during pregnancy can support hormonal health, reduce the risk of complications, and promote the best possible outcomes for both mother and child.
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pamela Frank
A Sample of the Vitamins and Minerals for Fertility Research
- Apart from lowering the malformation risk by periconceptional supplementation of folic acid, substitution with different micronutrients, particularly folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, iodine, selenium, iron, and DHA might have a positive impact on infertility treatment: Buhling KJ, Grajecki D. The effect of micronutrient supplements on female fertility. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Jun;25(3):173-80. doi: 10.1097/GCO.0b013e3283609138.
- Low concentrations of folate in seminal plasma may be detrimental for sperm DNA stability: Boxmeer JC, Smit M, Utomo E, Romijn JC, Eijkemans MJ, Lindemans J, Laven JS, Macklon NS, Steegers EA, Steegers-Theunissen RP.Low folate in seminal plasma is associated with increased sperm DNA damage. Fertil Steril. 2009 Aug;92(2):548-56. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.06.010. Epub 2008 Aug 22.
- Total cobalamin (vitamin B12) concentration in seminal plasma was significantly correlated with the sperm concentration: Boxmeer JC, Smit M, Weber RF, Lindemans J, Romijn JC, Eijkemans MJ, Macklon NS, Steegers-Theunissen RP. Seminal plasma cobalamin significantly correlates with sperm concentration in men undergoing IVF or ICSI procedures. J Androl. 2007 Jul-Aug;28(4):521-7. Epub 2007 Feb 7.
- Infantile zinc- and magnesium-deficiency and/or toxic metal burdens may be critical and induce epigenetic alterations in the genes and genetic regulation mechanisms of neurodevelopment in autistic children: Yasuda H1, Tsutsui T. Assessment of infantile mineral imbalances in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013 Nov 11;10(11):6027-43. doi: 10.3390/ijerph10116027.
Other Natural Nutritional Supplements for Fertility
There are a number of substances found naturally in food that can be used in more concentrated doses to balance hormones, nourish the endocrine glands, help with liver detoxification and enhance fertility.