Help prepare your body for fertility with the right supplements

We get daily messages from our readers wanting to know more about fertility supplements, from ‘which to buy, when to take them to what dosage is right?’ It can get frustrating reading every fertility blog under the sun, not knowing where to turn. So, we decided to turn to fertility supplement brand, Proceive to dig a little deeper. They’re also offering our readers an exclusive 20% discount.

Why take a fertility supplement?

When struggling to conceive (especially during a global pandemic, with access to doctors and fertility clinics being limited and life being different in this ‘covid-era’), there are so many factors that are out of our control. You may be wondering what you can do to prepare your body, whether trying to conceive naturally, waiting for your long-awaited fertility specialist consultation or whilst preparing for a round of IVF. One area in which you can take control of your conception preparation is through your lifestyle and nutrition, by eating food which helps fertility.

Our diet and lifestyle play a key role not only in our general health, but in our fertility health too. Did you know that in approximately one in three couples who experience infertility (where no cause has been found), that improving nutrition and lifestyle can make a difference? This doesn’t just apply to women – both the male and female reproductive systems need adequate nutritional support to contribute to good sperm and egg quality.

Good nutrition is vital, but many of us find it hard to eat this way all of the time. What’s more, the growing demands of a modern lifestyle are having a significant impact on our nutritional health – stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, dieting and poor nutrition all impact the body’s ability to absorb the nutrition needed to optimise reproductive health. This is where Proceive can help, by providing extra support needed for good pre-conception health. Dr Phil Boyle from Neo Fertility Clinic in Dublin says:

“As a fertility specialist, I understand how important good quality nutrition is for couples trying to conceive. So even if you have a healthy, balanced diet, I would always recommend taking a supplement with a comprehensive formulation. Women should make sure that they take something that includes B vitamins and magnesium as well as folic acid, whilst men should ensure they are boosting the quality of their sperm with selenium and arginine.”

About Proceive

Proceive is range of advanced fertility supplements tailored to support the nutritional needs of women and men when trying to conceive (TTC). Developed by fertility experts and specialists using over 600 clinical studies, the range contains Vitamins, Minerals, Amino acids and Omega 3 that can help to support conception. Each nutrient in Proceive has been chosen to complement each other and is formulated for optimal absorption. The nutrients in the product can help to support your body ready for implantation.

Proceive Max Women provides 6,552 mg of 33 carefully selected amino acids, vitamins, minerals and Omega 3 in each daily sachet. These key ingredients support the processes involved in egg production, hormone regulation and more. Recommended for women over 35 and/or those trying to conceive for over 1 year, or those embarking on fertility treatment. Proceive is designed to prepare your body for pregnancy, however it is safe to take in pregnancy. Proceive recommend on confirmation of a positive pregnancy test you finish you current box and speak to your doctor or midwife about nutrition for the remainder of your pregnancy.

Proceive Max Men provides 6,640 mg of 33 tailored amino acids, vitamins, and Omega 3 in each daily sachet. These key ingredients support the male reproductive system including sperm production. Recommended for men over 40 and/or those trying to conceive for over 1 year.

Proceive is made in the UK and is suitable for vegetarians.

For Women

Nutrients play an important role in the development of the egg, womb and the hormonal system. Each month, the reproductive and hormonal cycle develop an egg cell and prepare the womb. A wide range of other processes also have to be performed to create the right fertile balance. Without these nutrients, the delicate orchestral balance can be disrupted. The female egg takes approximately 90 days to mature before ovulation. Egg quality can be enhanced if it is released into a healthy nutritious environment.

Pregnancy is also very taxing on your body’s nutritional stores. Now’s the time to be cleaning up your diet and including lots of nutrient dense foods. Starting with a pre-conception supplement (such as Proceive), can positively effect the health of your eggs and subsequently help avoid any nutritional deficiencies during early pregnancy.

Female fertility supplement checklist:

1. Folic acid

It is vital that a woman has sufficient folic acid in her system prior to conception and during pregnancy to prevent, amongst other things, neural defects. As it is a water soluble vitamin it is not stored in the body so it must be taken in daily. The NHS recommends all women begin taking 400μg folic acid at least 3 months before conception.

2. Full set of B Vitamins

B-vitamins are water soluble which means that the body cannot store them and they are excreted daily. One of their most important functions is their role in energy production within the cell. Without sufficient energy, the body’s manufacturing area cannot produce hormones and ultimately won’t support conception. Vitamin B12 is also particularly difficult to get if you are following a vegetarian or vegan diet and therefore should be supplemented.

3. Amino acids

They are the building blocks of proteins necessary for growth and repair in the body. Look for: L’Arginine, Inositol, L’Carnitine, L’Citruline, L’Glutamine, N-Acetyl-L-cysteine, Glycine.

4. Antioxidants

They are very important as they protect the egg from damage. Antioxidants work in synergy and need to recycle each other. It is not advisable to supplement with a single antioxidant, they require the full complement to be effective.

5. Research backed

Look for an evidence based supplement that is backed by science.

6. Quality

Many supplements have an A-Z of everything but at low levels. It is important to ensure you select a supplement with nutrients at appropriate levels for reproductive health.

For Men

There are many misconceptions when it comes to male fertility, namely that men tend to think that they will be able to conceive forever. This is not the case. Much like women, after the age of 40 the quality of a man’s sperm declines. Older men trying for a baby may experience a low sperm count, poor mobility, poor motility and damage to the DNA. It is important to understand the importance of good quality sperm for a healthy pregnancy.

Proceive Max Men is recommended for those trying to conceive for a year or more, those embarking on fertility treatment and/or those over 40 years of age.

Men have to produce between 40 and 300 million sperm cells to be fertile. This is an intensive process and the energy involved in creating these cells is significant. Getting the environment right and developing good quality sperm cells are key factors when trying for a baby. A deficiency in any nutrient may have an impact on male fertility. The good news is as new sperm is created every 74 days (approx.), each new batch is different. Positive dietary changes and supplementation can improve sperm quality and quantity in as little as 3 months.

Male fertility supplement checklist:

1. Zinc

Zinc is considered a key nutrient in reproduction and tends to be lacking in many peoples diets. It contributes to normal fertility and reproduction.

2. Selenium

Selenium is an important anti-oxidant which contributes to sperm health

3. Full set of B Vitamins

B vitamins are vital for the production of energy in the body. Sufficient energy production is required for reproductive health

4. Amino acids

They are the building blocks of proteins necessary for growth and repair in the body. Look for: Taurine, L’Arginine, L’Carnitine, L’Citruline, L’Glutamine, N-Acetyl-L-cysteine, Glycine.

5. Antioxidants

They are very important as they protect the sperm from damage. Antioxidants work co-dependently and need to recycle each other. It is not advisable to supplement with a single antioxidant because they require the full complement to be effective.

6. Research backed

Look for an evidence based supplement that is backed by science

7. Quality

Many supplements have an A-Z of everything but at low levels it important to ensure you select a supplement with nutrients included at appropriate levels for reproductive health