1. Q: You don’t mention Vitamin D and Iodine in your recommendations for supplements. Do you think these are important.? About food sources of Vit D. I was under the impression that food sources are only beneficial if they have added Vit D, the food sources themselves are very, very low. What is your view on this?

A: Yes, we do feel these are important, but most people do not need extra supplementation outside of a good quality whole food multivitamin and good diet. If you would like more information on these two supplements in relation to fertility, please read our articles below…

Solve Thyroid Problems Before Conceiving a Baby
What is Seaweed & How Can it Benefit My Fertility?
Fertility and Vitamin D – The Connection

The food levels of vitamin D are relatively low, but getting some of them in combination each day provides adequate amounts needed, especially if you are getting enough sun exposure each day.

One of the easiest ways of obtaining Vitamin D is by eating eggs, fatty fish, and dairy, as well as taking cod liver oil.

*Cod liver oil, 1 tablespoon IUs per serving= 1,360, Recommended daily amount (RDA) %= 340
*Egg, 1 large (vitamin D is found in yolk) IU=41, RDA%=10
*Salmon (sockeye), cooked, 3 ounces IU= 447, RDA%=112
*Mackerel, cooked, 3 ounces IU=388, RDA%=97
*Tuna fish, canned in water, drained, 3 ounces IU=154, RDA%=39
*Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D-fortified, 1 cup IU=115–124, RDA%=29–31

Vitamin D can also be obtained for free by sitting out in the sun for 15 to 20 minutes per day. Forget using sun block though as it will actually block the ultraviolet light that is needed to produce Vitamin D. The warm sun helps your skin to create Vitamin D3 that is then transformed into the active hormone form of Vitamin D by the kidneys and the liver. In fact, by being out in the sun for just a few minutes a day, a women’s body can create between 10,000 to 25,000 IU of Vitamin D.

2. Q: I ordered and purchased a Fertility Cleanse kit and OvarianWise kit. My question is, can I use the progesterone cream alongside with the Fertility Cleanse kit? Secondly, will the progesterone cream stop me from ovulating? I need more info on the usage of the progesterone cream to get pregnant.

A: The Fertility Cleanse Kit is best done first in one cycle, and then on the next cycle the OvarianWise Fertility Kit may be started. We do not recommend using natural progesterone cream with the Fertility Cleanse Kit. If you chose to do a suppression cycle, where you use progesterone cream prior to ovulation, it may suppress ovulation. If you are trying to conceive, you may want to use it differently. Dr. Lee recommends that progesterone use begin directly after ovulation, which is usually day 12 in our cycles (twelve days after menstruation), and ending usage once menstruation begins. If you become pregnant while using natural progesterone cream, you will want to continue on with the progesterone cream, to help sustain pregnancy and prevent miscarriage. You can learn about using Natural Progesterone Cream into pregnancy by reading our article about using Natural Progesterone Cream Use in Pregnancy.

If you need to know more about Natural Progesterone Cream usage, please read over our complete Progesterone Fertility Guide.

3. Q: I have been very sick with a very bad cold. I have been taking a variety of herbs and supplements for fertility for a few months now: maca, Dong Quai, antioxidants, multivitamin, raspberry infusion & royal jelly. My question is, I want to take herbs and natural supplements for my cold, but is it too much for me to take many additional herbs for my cold with all the supplements and herbs for fertility? I feel like that will be too much for my body. Will it ruin my fertility plan and the progress I have made if I stop them and switch to ones for my cold?

A: We do not want you to stress yourself out more, or overextend yourself when you are sick. If you are so sick you cannot get out of bed, or feel completely horrible and cannot stick to your fertility plan, then so be it. It will still be there waiting for you when you are better. Sometimes taking all the supplements/herbs when we are sick may be taxing, stressful, an overload to our system which is working so hard to heal. I do not think adding herbs for a cold (not sure which ones you are choosing), will react negatively with anything you are currently taking. The most important thing is for you to get adequate rest and liquids. Sleep and plenty of water are two healing tools that work best. Do what you can. If you find that you are beginning to feel better and are up to picking-up your fertility plan, then great, if not, that is okay too. I don’t think your plan will be ruined, I know it is a concern since consistency is important, but we all get sick sometimes and need to allow our body to naturally cope and heal. Allow yourself the time and space for healing, if that means taking supportive herbs for cold symptoms, then that is what needs to be done. If you wanted to continue on with one herb/supplement that would be supportive for your cold, by supporting your immune system, it would be maca. It may support your body through this stressful time, while also continuing to help maintain hormonal balance. I hope you feel better!

4. Q: My question is if I purchase the Fertility Cleanse will it take all the vitex and maca out of my system that I have been taking? Thanks very much for the reply.

A: Maca is a nourishing food and its benefits are not affected by the Fertility Cleanse. Vitex is not suggested for combination with the Fertility Cleanse. The Fertility Cleanse may affect how the vitex works in your body. On the other hand though, if you have been using vitex consistently for a while, it is best to be consistent with this herb and it may be continued on, even through the cleansing cycle. Just be sure that you are aware that because the Fertility Cleanse may affect how the vitex is working in your body, that cycle may be different than your other ones.

Dalene Barton-Schuster - Certified Herbalist, Birth Doula

Practicing natural health and herbalism since 2000, Dalene received her training and certification under the guidance of Lynn Albers at Yarmony Mt. Herbal College in Colorado. She went on to become a Certified Birth Doula at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, Oregon in 2007.