What is FertilityBlend for Women? FertilityBlend for Women is a scientifically validated herbal/nutritional blend to improve fertility by optimizing hormonal and menstrual cycle balance, without the increased multiple births associated with drug therapy. This premium combination of amino acids, herbs, vitamins and minerals improves overall reproductive health. Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry herb) enhances hormone balance and ovulation frequency.  The antioxidants green tea, vitamin E, and selenium help reverse oxidative damage that occurs with aging to improve overall reproductive health. Folic acid assists in the reduction of specific birth defects (neural tube defects) in children, while vitamins B6 and B12, iron, zinc and magnesium help promote fertility health. L-arginine is an amino acid that stimulates the reproductive organs by improving circulation to these areas.

Is Fertile Life for Women a drug? FertilityBlend for Women is not a drug.  It is a daily nutritional supplement.  While it is not intended for the treatment of any disease, it may be used as a "soft" approach to optimize fertility in a natural manner, as an option prior to, or instead of, "hard" options such as in vitro fertilization or fertility drugs.  FertilityBlend does not have the degree of side effects associated with drug therapy, but it should not be combined with IVF or drug therapy due to the risk of enhancing or interfering with those effects.

Why are nutritional supplements preferable to drugs? Nutritional supplements take a more gradual, gentle, natural approach compared to drugs.  The focus with supplements is the optimization of health and wellness, rather than the treatment of disease.  Drugs are used for the treatment of specific conditions, often by altering biological pathways, sometimes in a very powerful or unnatural manner, and often with undesirable side effects.  Fertile Life for Women works with the body to improve the underlying hormone balance and reduce free radical damage, rather than forcing the body with a quick acting drug.

Why is FertilityBlend for Women better than supplementation with the individual ingredients sold separately? Fertile Life for Women is formulated to allow the ingredients to work in concert, at optimum levels of each individual ingredient.  The combination of these ingredients results in a synergistic effect that exceeds the benefits possible with any single one of these ingredients.  The amounts of each ingredient are at the lowest possible effective dose, and are combined for convenience of use.

In general, how does Fertile Life for Women work? Fertile Lilfe for Women was developed on the basis of published scientific literature on individual nutritional components that benefit fertility health. The herb, Vitex (chasteberry) has been reported to enhance hormone balance, resulting in increased progesterone release and ovulation frequency. The antioxidants, green tea, vitamin E, and selenium, improve overall reproductive health by reducing free radical damage. Folic acid assists in the reduction of specific birth defects (neural tube defects) in children, while vitamins B6 and B12, iron, zinc and magnesium help promote fertility health. L-arginine, an amino acid, stimulates the reproductive organs by improving circulation to these areas.

How much do I take and how long before it starts to work? As a dietary supplement, take 3 capsules per day. It's best to take the capsules throughout the day, one with each meal, however, you may take the 3 capsules all at once with food if it is more convenient. Use for at least 3 months before expecting a significant alteration in hormone balance and fertility. If conception is not achieved within this time, you may want to have your partner take FertilityBlend for Men.  At least 50% of fertility issues are due to low sperm quality and motility.  You may also want to check with doctor to determine whether there are any physical causes for low fertility that can be corrected by standard medical procedures.  Usually doctors recommend at least a year of trying to conceive before undergoing extensive fertility tests.

What causes fertility issues in women? As many as 15% of couples in the U.S. have difficulty conceiving a child.  In about one third of these cases, it is the man that has low fertility; in another third, the female has fertility issues..  The remaining third is due to both male and female fertility issues or unknown causes.  In many of these cases, the causes of low fertility are treatable.  Infertility is defined as the failure to become pregnant after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse.  The first step in dealing with fertility issues should always be a thorough health exam of both partners to determine any obvious physical problems.  If these are ruled out, sometimes doctors or patients don't know where to look next. If infertility is due to hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies or age, natural remedies should be considered. Hormonal imbalance can be determined by blood tests of reproductive hormone levels.  Measuring follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen and progesterone at day 12 and 21 can indicate whether the hormonal state is compatible with pregnancy.  LH or progesterone insufficiency also can be diagnosed with a urine test, or an abnormal monthly temperature chart.  If progesterone is low, there is less of an expected increase in temperature during the second half of the cycle after ovulation.  Without sufficient progesterone, the endometrium can not be prepared for implantation, and the fertile ova can not be converted into the corpus luteum.

Why is nutrition important in female fertility? Lifestyle changes are often helpful in increasing chances for conception.  Smoking, caffeine and alcohol consumption, and excessive or insufficient body weight, and stress have all been related to reduced fertility in women.  Reproductive organs are highly susceptible to free radical or oxidative damage from environmental toxicants and natural aging. A balanced, nutritional diet, and nutritional supplements with a high antioxidant content (e.g. vitamin E and selenium) can help reverse some of this damage. Green tea has been shown to be a potent antioxidant, and tea drinking has been associated with increased chances of conception, as opposed to other caffeinated beverages that have a negative effect on fertility. Vitex agnus-castus is the major herb used for improving hormone balance..  Vitex increases LH production and mildly inhibits the release of FSH.  The result is a shift in the ratio of estrogen to progesterone, favoring corpus luteum production.  Several clinical studies in Europe used Vitex successfully to restore progesterone balance, and induce fertility (39 of 45 women increased progesterone levels and 7 became pregnant within 3 months;  Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has been shown to improve conception rates, as well as treat PMS symptoms, but whether due to a primary insufficiency is unclear.  Folic acid, vitamin B12, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium deficiencies have been known to cause fertility issues that are easily reversible with supplementation. L-arginine, an amino acid, helps improve circulation to the reproductive organs to enhance their receptivity to egg implantation.

When do I take it. Take 3 capsules daily, any time of day, but preferably split into 2 or 3 doses to spread out absorption.  If taking vitamins or minerals on an empty stomach bothers you, take after meals.  Some herbal practitoners recommend taking Vitex only during the latter half of the menstrual cycle; however, the studies we cite, regarding use of Vitex to reduce PMS and improve fertility, have all recommended taking Vitex on a continuous basis, throughout the menstrual cycle. It usually takes 2-3 months to show significant changes in hormone balance, but keep taking for up to a year, or until pregnancy is confirmed.

What if I miss a day or two. Missing a day or two will not seriously affect results.  Just start taking it again as soon as you remember.  If desired, you can take up to 4 capsules a day after missing a dose.  Remember that results will not be optimal if you take this product sporadically.

Should I take more than the recommended dose Taking any more than the recommended dose of 3 capsules per day will not produce any additional benefits and is not recommended.  Taking larger amounts than recommended can result in an upset stomach and potentially other medical problems. Please consult with your doctor immediately if you experience adverse symptoms after taking too much of any product.

Is there anyone who should avoid If pregnant or breast feeding you should only take supplements recommended by your physician.  As a general rule, anyone with pre-existing medical conditions or on prescription medications should consult with their doctor or pharmacist before starting a new diet or supplement.  Do not take with Clomid or other fertility drugs.  Can be taken in conjunction with prenatal vitamins.  Discontinue once pregnancy is verified and inform your physician that you were taking a dietary supplement that has been shown in clinical studies to normalize progesterone levels. Ask you physician whether it would be prudent to prescribe a progesterone supplement upon discontinuing (See Feminine Breeze as an alternative means of sustaining healthy progesterone levels.  Although Vitex has been safely taken during early pregnancy to help prevent miscarriage in cases of progesterone deficiency, it is always safest to avoid any drugs or supplements during pregnancy unless prescribed by your physician.

Do the ingredients in Fertile Life for Women interact with any other foods or drugs? The ingredients in Fertile Lilfe for Women have a long history of use in humans and are not known to interact in any adverse way with other foods or drugs (except possibly fertility drugs) at the recommended dose.  It is not recommended to take this product with Clomid (clomiphene citrate) or other fertility drugs or treatments (e.g. IVF) because it may enhance or interfere with these effects.

Can I take Fertile Life for Women when I am pregnant or breast feeding? We do not recommend taking Fertile LIfe or any supplement other than prenatal vitamins( see The Whole Person and Fruit/Veggies Delight) while pregnant or breastfeeding, unless prescribed by your doctor.  Although Vitex agnus-castus is not generally recommended during pregnancy, it has been used to prevent miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy with cases of progesterone insufficiency.  None of the other ingredients carry any specific warnings against use by healthy pregnant or breast feeding women, but it is advisable to switch to prenatal vitamins during this period.