According to a research review published in the June 2012 issue of the Natural Medicine Journal, women who are having trouble getting pregnant may not have to resort to in vitro fertilization right away. 

“Conventional wisdom would suggest that in vitro fertilization is the only answer for diminished ovarian reserve, but preliminary research offers hope that egg quality and ovarian reserve can be improved by [the hormone] dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA),” explains the author of the review, Setareh Tais, ND, who is a specialist in reproductive health. 

Diminished ovarian reserve is described as “a natural phenomenon in which the number and quality of a woman’s eggs diminish as she ages.” Tais writes that there are often no clinical symptoms of diminished ovarian reserve, and it represents one of the most challenging infertility diagnoses to overcome.  

Tais looked at the scientific research associated with three dietary supplements: DHEA, melatonin and myo-inositol. She found the most “compelling positive research” with DHEA. “Although melatonin and myo-inositol demonstrated some improvement,” she explained, “the effects were not statistically significant …” Tais reviewed data from nine different studies featuring DHEA.

Tais cautions that DHEA supplementation does have some potential side effects, including oily skin, acne and mild hair loss. Headache, irritability and nausea are less common side effects of DHEA supplementation.  

Wellness Times has reported on other ways women can enhance their chances of conceiving. Women who have high exercise intensity may also have difficulty getting pregnant. And let’s not forget about the guys—there are ways that men can naturally boost their fertility.