Do Prenatals Make You More Fertile?

If you're in the phase of trying to conceive, it's natural to look for ways to support your body and improve your reproductive health. It's a standard recommendation to start taking prenatal vitamins when trying, but do prenatals make you more fertile?

As a pregnancy nutritionist, the answer I like to give to this question is that prenatals can support fertility by correcting nutrient deficiencies. 

But (and this is a very important 'but'!) you can't supplement yourself out of a bad diet. A prenatal should be a part of a broader approach to nutrition and health.

Let's take a closer look at this topic:

Table of Contents

What Are Prenatal Vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins are supplements that provide nutrients you need during pregnancy and in the months leading up to conception.

They typically include higher amounts of folate, iron, B vitamins, choline, iodine, and other essential nutrients that support a developing baby and help prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy.

Prenatals are not standard multivitamins. They're formulated with the demands of pregnancy in mind, including higher nutrient needs, increased blood volume, and the fast cell division that happens in early pregnancy. They can also help prevent neural tube defects.

Do Prenatal Vitamins Make You More Fertile?

Yes and no.

The right prenatal vitamin can improve fertility because it can correct nutrient deficiencies that interfere with ovulation, hormone production, and egg quality.

Nutrients like folate, B12, iron, iodine, vitamin D, zinc, and choline play essential roles in DNA synthesis, thyroid function, progesterone production, blood sugar regulation, and uterine lining development. When any of these are low, it can make conception harder.

But prenatal supplements aren't a treatment for underlying fertility conditions or a replacement for a healthy diet. They are, true to their name, supplements that can fill in gaps, but they're not a magic fix that'll make you fertile on their own.

You Can't Supplement Your Way Out of a Bad Diet

Taking a prenatal won't make up for eating in ways that destabilize your blood sugar, deplete your nutrient stores, or create inflammation in your body.

If your diet is built around refined carbohydrates, processed foods, and not enough protein or healthy fats, a supplement can't correct the hormonal and metabolic imbalances that those foods create.

Fertility largely depends on a foundation of nutrient-dense whole foods, such as organ meats, eggs, raw dairy, fresh vegetables, quality fats, and properly soaked grains.

In other words, a prenatal works best when it's filling in gaps and optimizing nutrient levels that are already being supported through diet. It's a reinforcement and not a replacement.

Learn more about the ancestral diet and my favorite superfoods for fertility.

How Prenatal Vitamins Can Improve Fertility

Prenatal vitamins improve fertility when they're well-formulated and contain bioavailable nutrients, including:

• Folate (as 5-MTHF): Supports DNA synthesis and cell division, which are critical for egg maturation and early embryo development.

• B12: Works with folate to support ovulation and red blood cell production, and many women are deficient in it.

• Choline: Supports egg quality, gene expression, and early neural development (most prenatals actually don't include enough of it!).

• Iodine: Essential for thyroid function, which regulates your menstrual cycle and ovulation.

• Iron: Supports healthy ovulation and prevents anemia, which can interfere with conception.

• Vitamin D: Influences hormone balance, immune function, and implantation.

• Zinc: Plays a role in egg development, progesterone production, and ovulation, and many women have a zinc deficiency.

• Antioxidants (CoQ10, NAC): Protect egg cells from oxidative stress and improve egg quality, especially as you age.

You can, of course, get all of these nutrients through food, but a high-quality prenatal can be an easy way to fill some gaps and help you on your fertility journey.

When Should You Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins?

As a fertility and pregnancy nutritionist, I recommend starting to take a prenatal at least 2–3 months before you begin trying to conceive. This gives your body time to build up nutrient stores and create a stronger foundation for ovulation and early pregnancy.

You should also focus on other aspects of a healthy lifestyle, such as managing stress, staying at a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet. Again, a prenatal works best when it's part of an overarching, holistic approach to your health.

What to Look For in a Prenatal to Boost Fertility

Not all supplements are created equal.

In fact, a 2024 Government Accountability Office study tested 12 best-selling prenatal supplements and found that 11 of them had at least one nutrient that fell outside acceptable ranges from what was listed on the label. This means you could be getting too much or too little of important nutrients.

When you're choosing a prenatal vitamin, look for:

• Active, bioavailable forms: Your body can use 5-MTHF (active folate) and methylcobalamin (B12) much more easily than synthetic folic acid and cyanocobalamin.

• Adequate dosing: Many cheap prenatals are underdosed and won't correct deficiencies or build your nutrient stores.

• Comprehensive coverage: Don't just focus on folate! You need the full spectrum of nutrients, including choline, iodine, zinc, vitamin D, and B vitamins.

• Clean formulas: Avoid unnecessary fillers, artificial colors, and additives.

You should also avoid:

• Folic acid (synthetic) instead of folate (active form)

• Mega-doses of everything (more isn't always better and can sometimes cause imbalances)

• Cheap, poorly absorbed forms like magnesium oxide

My go-to recommendation is Optimal Prenatal by Seeking Health.

I love it and recommend it to all my clients because it includes methylated B vitamins, comprehensive micronutrient coverage, and well-absorbed forms of each nutrient!

FAQs

What is the difference between folic acid and folate?

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that's used in most cheap prenatal vitamins and fortified foods. Your body has to convert it into the active form (5-MTHF), and many people don't convert it efficiently because of genetic variations. Folate, or 5-MTHF, is the active form that your body can use immediately without any conversion. It's more bioavailable. For fertility and pregnancy, choosing a prenatal with folate instead of folic acid gives you better support for DNA synthesis, cell division, and ovulation.

Can vitamin D help with fertility?

Yes, vitamin D plays a big role in fertility. It influences hormone balance, immune function, and the development of the uterine lining, all of which are important for conception and implantation. If you live in a northern climate or spend most of your time indoors, you may have low vitamin D levels.

What are the most important nutrients in prenatal vitamins to improve my chances of getting pregnant?

The most important nutrients for fertility are folate (as 5-MTHF), B12, choline, iodine, vitamin D, zinc, iron, and antioxidants like CoQ10 and NAC. A well-formulated prenatal should include all of these in bioavailable forms and adequate doses.

Do You Want to Boost Your Fertility and Nourish Your Future Baby?

The bottom line is that a well-formulated prenatal vitamin can help improve fertility, but it's just one small piece of the bigger puzzle. What you eat every day matters a lot more.

As a holistic prenatal nutritionist, I work with women to create personalized nutrition plans that support fertility, preconception health, and pregnancy.

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