• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Fertility Topics
  • Fertility Therapies
  • Hormone Health
  • Nutrition
  • Success Stories
  • PROGRAMS
  • ARTICLES
Natural Fertility Info.com
  • Shop Products
  • PROGRAMS
  • ARTICLES
Natural Fertility Info.com

Natural Fertility Info.com

Natural Fertility tips, information, herbs, supplements and more

  • Shop Products

Fertility Nutrition Pregnancy

Why Vitamin B6 is Vital to a Healthy Menstrual Cycle and Pregnancy

Dalene Barton - Certified Herbalist, Birth Doula
July 16, 2021
Reviewed by Christine Traxler, MD

Are you trying to conceive? If so, I am sure you are already thinking about eating better, taking better care of your body; you are getting prepared so you can have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Despite our best efforts at living a healthy lifestyle, we can still fall short of getting all the nutrients needed to achieve pregnancy. Often times our bodies will signal to us that something is lacking in the diet: sneaky changes in our menstrual cycles such as PMS, mid-cycle spotting or an early period. When menstrual cycle irregularities like these happen, it may be time to look to nutrition for answers. It makes sense; the nutrients we consume from foods are the building blocks for everything within the body.

One of these important nutrients is vitamin B6. It is part of the intricate processes of the formation of body proteins, structural compounds, chemical transmitters in the nervous system, red blood cells, and prostaglandins. It is also necessary for the body to maintain a stable hormonal and immune system. Research has shown that vitamin B6 supplementation can be helpful for many women’s fertility health issues, including…

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Vitamin B6 was first used for women’s cyclical conditions after researchers found it successfully helped women with depression caused by birth control pills. Seeing the success they had with these women, researchers decided to see if B6 could relieve PMS symptoms.

There have been several studies performed since the 1970s, metaanalyses shared in the journals AJOG and Reprod Toxicol, as shared of by Dr. Aviva Romm Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, on the use of vitamin B6 for PMS. While PMS may be caused by a variety of factors, unrelated to vitamin B6 deficiency, most studies showed that the majority of women with PMS had improved symptoms once they began supplementing with vitamin B6. Some studies determined that not all women saw an improvement in symptoms from supplementing with B6. There could be additional contributing factors to why they saw no improvement, such as other nutrient deficiencies or a difficulty in converting vitamin B6 into its active form pyridoxal-5-phosphate.

Today vitamin B6 is highly regarded as a first line of defense in treating PMS. It has been shown especially helpful for cyclical acne and mood disorders that come along with PMS. B6 plays a lead role in brain chemistry because it is involved in the manufacture of all amino acid transmitters. Some examples of these amino acid transmitters you may recognize are serotonin, dopamine and melatonin. As most of us know, these all play a critical role in our mood and behavior.

Luteal Phase Defect

The luteal phase starts just after ovulation and ends when menstruation begins. In order to sustain an early pregnancy, the luteal phase needs to be at least 12 days long. Women with a short luteal phase, also known as luteal phase defect (LPD), may struggle to carry an early pregnancy due to low progesterone levels and an insufficient uterine lining. B6 is necessary for the formation of prostaglandins and is involved in hormonal balance. Many women have reported an improvement in the length of the luteal phase by supplementing with vitamin B6 daily. Read one woman’s story here…

Pregnancy

Vitamin B6 plays a vital role in the multiplication of cells, making it very important for healthy pregnancies, immune system function, mucous membranes,and red blood cells. The health of your immune system, mucous membranes, and red blood cells make achieving pregnancy possible, or not. Proper cell division and replication is necessary for the health of a developing embryo.

Nausea and Vomiting
Vitamin B6supplementation at 30mg per day is considered an effective treatment for morning sickness in the first trimester of pregnancy. Researchers have found that combining vitamin B6supplementation with powdered ginger root at 250mg per day was even more effective.

Homocysteinemia
Homocysteinemia is an elevation of homocysteine in the blood which can cause the blood to clot more easily than normal. Pregnant women with this issue are at a higher risk for recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, and premature birth. Elevated homocysteine levels are most common in women with a defect of the MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) gene, known as MTHFR C677T. According to one study, “Homocysteinemia is regulated by a complex metabolism in which vitamin B6 and folate are involved. These two vitamins may have, in themselves, some impacts on embryonic and fetal growth… homocysteinemia increases in the case of vitamin B6 or intracellular methylfolates deficiency…” (Fertility and Sterility: 75; 823-825. 2001)

How to Ensure You are Getting Enough Vitamin B6

First and foremost, you should be getting enough B6 through your diet. Foods that are rich in vitamin B6 are whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, bananas, tuna, turkey and dark leafy green vegetables. Because vitamin B6 levels in the body are closely linked to magnesium intake, it is also important to be sure you are eating a diet rich in this mineral.

Supplementation
We hear all the time, “if you are going to supplement with vitamin B6, you had better be sure to include it in a B vitamin complex.” B complex refers to all of the known essential water-soluble vitamins, except for vitamin C. It was once thought that vitamin B was one vitamin, but researchers later discovered that in fact this “vitamin B” was actually many different types of vitamins, thus they were given numbers and names to identify them…

  • vitamin B1 – thiamine
  • vitamin B2 – riboflavin
  • vitamin B3 – niacin
  • vitamin B5 – pantothenic acid
  • vitamin B6 – pyridoxine
  • biotin
  • vitamin B9 – folic acid/folate
  • vitamin B12 – cobalamin

What may be confusing to all of us non-scientists is that just because these vitamins are classified and numbered as “B vitamins” doesn’t mean they are similar or related to one another but, in fact, they all play a different role in the health of the body. So, why should you take them together? Many of the B vitamins are vital to various intricate processes within the body and some rely on each other to do their jobs properly. For example, riboflavin (B2) is necessary to convert pyridoxine to pyridoxal-5-phosphate. By taking a B complex supplement or a multivitamin that contains a B complex, you are ensuring that you aren’t missing out on any one of these life and health-giving vitamins.

The average daily therapeutic dose for health issues associated with low vitamin B6 levels is between 50-100mg along with a B complex or with other B vitamins as part of a whole food multivitamin. Talk to your doctor to see if vitamin B6 supplementation is right for you.

We carry three products that contain vitamin B6:

  • Fertile Woman One Daily – Whole Food Multivitamin – contains 2mg of B6
  • Baby and Me Multivitamin (prenatal) – contains 4mg of B6
  • Fertilica Choice Antioxidants – contains 2mg of B6

What to Avoid to Ensure Optimum Vitamin B6 Levels
There are certain things that can inhibit vitamin B6, putting some of the population at risk for B6 deficiency. They are:

  • oral contraceptives (birth control pill)
  • Hydrazine dyes, especially FD&C Yellow #5 (yellow food dye #5/tartrazine) – found in many processed foods, especially artificially flavored and dyed juices or soda pops
  • alcoholic beverages
  • excessive protein intake

Safety and Toxicity
B6 is one of the only water-soluble vitamins that does come with some risk of toxicity when taken at higher doses or long-term supplementation at moderate doses. It is best to supplement below 50 milligrams per day. If recommended supplementation is 100mg, be sure to spread the dose out several times per day. As always, be sure to speak with your doctor about supplementation of B6 if you think you need a therapeutic dose.

Have you supplemented with vitamin B6 for any fertility-related health issue? If so, we would love to hear your experience in the comments below.

References

  • Murray, Michael T., ND. (1996). Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements; pp. 80-136. New York: Three Rivers Press.
  • Quéré, I. (2001). Vitamin supplementation and pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent early pregnancy loss and hyperhomocysteinemia. Fertility and Sterility, 75(4), 823-825. doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(01)01678-8 Retrieved from: https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(01)01678-8/fulltext
  • Romm, Aviva., MD. (2010). Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health; Premenstrual Symptoms, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), pp.163. St. Louis, Missouri: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
  • Pitchaiah Mandava, MD, PhD. (n.d.). Homocystinuria/Homocysteinemia. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1952251-overview<

« Previous Post
A New Uterine Fibroid Treatment Helps to Preserve Uterine Health
Next Post »
Important Natural Health Tips for Women with Lean PCOS

About the Author

Dalene Barton - Certified Herbalist, Birth Doula

Practicing natural health and herbalism for over 18 years, Dalene received her training and herbal certification under the guidance of Lynn Albers at Yarmony Mt. Herbal College in Colorado in 2000. She went on to become a Certified Birth Doula at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, Oregon in 2007. As a Birth Doula, Dalene has helped to bring many new lives in to this world. Dalene has written 280+ fertility articles and with her vast array of herbal and holistic healing knowledge has helped 1000's of women on their journey to Motherhood.

5 Steps To Improve Your Fertility Naturally

  • Learn the 5 different areas to focus on for optimal fertility health
  • Learn how to support hormonal health with herbs and essential oils
  • Tips on transitioning to a whole food fertility diet.
  • Self-care therapies to support your reproductive health

@NaturalFertilityInfo

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 31

Open
👇3 Ways To Naturally Support Ovulation 👇

Lack of ovulation is one of the most common causes of infertility.

BUT you can help support your body to regularly ovulate again when hormonal health is found.

Here are some steps you can take to support yourself….

1️⃣ Eat healthy fats like avocado, chia, flax, nuts & seeds

2️⃣ Eat an abundance of whole foods 🥦🍉🥗🍇

3️⃣ Increase circulation to the reproductive system through exercise, Self Fertility Massage and castor oil packs.

👇 To learn more on how to support your fertility naturally, type STEPS in the comments below to join my free mini-course - 5 Steps To Improve Your Fertility Naturally, where I go into detail on each of the steps you can take to support your fertility cycle. 👇

#ovulation #periodhealth #naturalfertility #fertilitytips #fertilitydiet

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 30

Open
🌱 Ashwagandha is one of my favorite herbs for stress support while trying to conceive. 

It is easy to use and the calming effects can be felt pretty quickly after starting the herb. 

➡️ The hormonal support results take a bit longer, as with any hormone supportive herb, but is wonderful for both women and men who are experiencing high stress and hormone imbalances. 

Type ASH in the comments below and I will share which Ashwagandha I recommend and how to use it for fertility support. 👇👇

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 30

Open
Q: I have a 24 day cycle. What is this saying about my fertility?

A: Swipe left for our answer...

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 30

Open
⭐ 3 Benefits of Vitex for Fertility…

1️⃣ Regulates hormones: Vitex, also known as chasteberry, is known to regulate the production of hormones such as luteinizing hormone and prolactin, which can help to balance out estrogen and progesterone levels, promoting fertility.

2️⃣ Improves ovulation: Vitex can help to regulate the menstrual cycle and improve ovulation in women with irregular cycles or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

3️⃣ Decreases symptoms of PMS: Vitex can also help to reduce the severity of symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as cramps, breast tenderness, and mood swings, which can improve overall health and well-being.

Want to know which Vitex I recommend and how to use it? Type VITEX in the comments below 👇

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 29

Open
🌱 Red raspberry leaf has been used by midwives for fertility for generations. Some of the most well known benefits of raspberry leaf for reproductive support include… 

1️⃣ Regulating menstrual cycles: Red raspberry leaf is believed to help balance hormones and regulate menstrual cycles, making it easier for women to conceive.

2️⃣ Strengthening the uterus: Red raspberry leaf is rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron and vitamin C, which are believed to help strengthen the uterus and prepare it for pregnancy.

3️⃣ Improving egg quality: Some studies suggest that red raspberry leaf may improve egg quality and increase the chances of conception.

4️⃣ Reducing morning sickness: Red raspberry leaf is also believed to help reduce the symptoms of morning sickness, which can be especially beneficial for women who are trying to conceive.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 29

Open
🧪 Xenohormones are chemicals that mimic the effects of hormones in the body. 

They can disrupt the endocrine system, which controls the production, transport, and function of hormones. 🚫

This can lead to a variety of health problems, including fertility issues. 

Examples of xenohormones include certain pesticides, plastics, and phthalates. 🕯️

Exposure to these chemicals can affect the production of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, which play key roles in fertility. 

Xenohormones can also affect ovulation and implantation of a fertilized egg, leading to infertility. 

It would be best to avoid these chemicals as much as possible. 

👇👇To  learn more about which chemicals to avoid and which products are most important to replace type in ‘TOXIC’ in the comments below to get my guide to Creating a Healthy Home for Fertility Pregnancy & Family 👇👇

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 28

Open
5 Steps you can take to help support your fertility naturally…. 👇

1️⃣ Cleanse and prepare the body for conception

2️⃣ Nourish the body with fertility supportive foods

3️⃣ Protect and remove any substances that are causing harm

4️⃣ Learn how to fertility chart and read your monthly cycle

5️⃣ Add lifestyle habits that help to support fertility health

🌼 To learn more on how to support your fertility naturally, type STEPS in the comments below to join my free mini-course - 5 Steps To Improve Your Fertility Naturally, where I go into detail on each of the 5 steps. 👇

#naturalfertility #fertilitytips #gettingpregnant #hormonehealth #hormonalhealth

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 28

Open
The body is always giving us feedback to what is happening inside. How regularly you go to the bathroom shares a lot about your digestive health.... as does a bloated belly or gas. Your period or monthly cycle can share a lot about your hormonal state. Your skin can share how your liver is doing. And so on. What have you learned from listening to your body?

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 28

Open
🕯️Chemicals in candles, such as paraffin and phthalates, can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when burned. 

Some research suggests that certain VOCs, such as phthalates, may disrupt hormone balance by mimicking estrogen and other hormones in the body. 🚫

It’s always a good idea to choose candles made from natural materials, such as beeswax or soy wax, which produce fewer VOCs. 🐝

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 27

Open
5 Steps you can take to help support your fertility naturally…. 👇

1️⃣ Cleanse and prepare the body for conception

2️⃣ Nourish the body with fertility supportive foods

3️⃣ Protect and remove any substances that are causing harm

4️⃣ Learn how to fertility chart and read your monthly cycle

5️⃣ Add lifestyle habits that help to support fertility health

🌼 To learn more on how to support your fertility naturally, type STEPS in the comments below to join my free mini-course - 5 Steps To Improve Your Fertility Naturally, where I go into detail on each of the 5 steps. 👇

#naturalfertility #fertilitytips #gettingpregnant #hormonehealth #hormonalhealth

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 27

Open
Preparing for pregnancy is one of the best steps you can take for a healthy pregnancy and child. Here are some steps to help you get started…. 👇

1️⃣ Eat a diet high in fiber. More fruits and veggies

Fiber helps the body to get rid of excess hormones and fruits and veggies are packed with fiber. They also are very hydrating and have lots of nutrients. All are useful for someone with heavy cycles. 

2️⃣ Learn about your fertility cycle through tracking and charting

Fertility charting will help you to understand your current hormonal state, when or if you are ovulating and other information about your cycle that will help to bring clarity to your fertility path. 

3️⃣ Fertility Cleanse 1-2x per year

The first phase of the Fertility Cleanse is a great way to help support the liver in it’s natural ability to get rid of excess hormones. The second phase focuses on the uterus and helping the uterus to cleanse and increase circulation.

👇 To learn more about the Fertility Cleansing type CLEANSE in the comments below and I will send you my Guide To Fertility Cleansing. 👇 

#hormonehealth #hormonalhealth #periodhealth #naturalfertility #fertilitytips #fertilitydiet

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 26

Open
💡It can be completely normal for your menstrual cycle to vary in length slightly from month to month! 

Ovulation may come a day before or a day later even in normal some cycles. 

We actually expect to see natural variations between menstrual cycles. 

Early ovulation can be concerning, however, when/if it consistently happens. 

➡️ If you would like to learn what you can do to help balance a short follicular phase type EARLY in the comments below and I will send you a link to my guide….👇👇

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 26

Open
Are you experiencing fibroids? 👇 Type FIBROID in the comments below and I will send you a link to my natural guide. 🌱

#fibroid #fibroids #naturalfertility #fibroidfertility #fibroiddiet

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 26

Open
Intimacy may not be something at the top of your mind with everything else you are doing to TTC. But connection with your partner and you feeling.... good is important. Here are some natural ways to support libido if the stress of baby making has made things tense in the bedroom.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 25

Open
When in doubt get it checked out. 

One of the most common reasons I suggest women to see their doctors is when they are experiencing  a heavy period that doesn’t stop after 5-7 days and has heavy flow. 

There are many different reasons this could be happening, but we first want to make sure it isn’t something that requires medical assistance before going on to healthy lifestyle support.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 25

Open
Ovarian cysts are more common than you think, and there are ways you can support your body naturally. Type CYSTS in the comments below and I will send you the natural steps you can take to support your self.

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 24

Open
🌱 One of my favorite ways to support fertility and hormone health is through herbs. 

Over the past 20+ years that I have been an herbalist I have seen what herbs can do to help turn someone’s health around. 

When it comes to fertility there are a lot of different herbs that you can use. But they all have different actions. There is no one herb that fits all for fertility. 

That is one of the reasons I make herbal blends & formulas. 

Three of my favorite herbs are vitex, maca and shatavari, but they each have different effects on the body. 

So the key to success with fertility herbs is to first figure out what is going on in your body and then you can pick the right herbal formula for you. 

You can do this by charting your fertility (I have a lot of posts about fertility charting on my feed as well as my website) and also paying attention to your period. 🩸

To learn more about my herbal formulas for fertility support type HERBS in the comments below and I’ll share a link to my formulas 👇👇

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 24

Open
👇READ THIS if you have a regular period but still haven’t gotten pregnant…. 

The answer is YES. The menstruation phase of a monthly fertility cycle is only one stage of the cycle. 

There are many other times of the month that are even more important like: 

🌸 Follicular phase: When the lining is growing and follicles are maturing

🌸 Ovulation: When the egg is released

🌸 Implantation: When the fertilized egg implants

🌸 Luteal phase: The time period between ovulation and the next cycle needs to be long enough for implantation to occur. 

Wondering how to start supporting your fertility naturally? 

👇 To learn more on how to support your fertility naturally, type STEPS in the comments below to join my free mini-course - 5 Steps To Improve Your Fertility Naturally, where I go into detail on each of the steps you can take to support your fertility cycle. 👇

#periods #periodhealth #naturalfertility #fertilitytips #fertilitydiet

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 23

Open
Endometriosis can impact fertility and having a healthy pregnancy. 

Preparing ahead of time and taking the steps can make a big difference. 

Type ENDO in the comments below if you would like my natural guide to supporting your fertility regardless of having endometriosis....💛👇

naturalfertilityinfo

View

Jan 23

Open
🌱 One of my favorite ways to support fertility and hormone health is through herbs. 

Over the past 20+ years that I have been an herbalist I have seen what herbs can do to help turn someone’s health around. 

When it comes to fertility there are a lot of different herbs that you can use. But they all have different actions. There is no one herb that fits all for fertility. 

That is one of the reasons I make herbal blends & formulas. 

Three of my favorite herbs are vitex, maca and shatavari, but they each have different effects on the body. 

So the key to success with fertility herbs is to first figure out what is going on in your body and then you can pick the right herbal formula for you. 

You can do this by charting your fertility (I have a lot of posts about fertility charting on my feed as well as my website) and also paying attention to your period. 🩸

To learn more about my herbal formulas for fertility support type HERBS in the comments below and I’ll share a link to my formulas 👇👇
Load More...

Footer

  • Programs
  • Upcoming Classes

  • Consultations
  • Contact Us