Fertility Tea

You’ve likely come across fertility tea if you’ve been searching the internet for ways you can increase your chances of getting pregnant. If not, you will soon see an ad for or a post about a tea blend in your news feed. You’re likely to be wondering, however:

What’s in fertility tea?

Does it increase my chances of having a baby?

Can you drink it when TTC?

Does it  worth my money?

These are important questions to ask yourself when you’re on your fertility journey. We decided to take a closer glance at the topic of fertility and share our thoughts. Even if you don’t drink coffee, this popular fertility supplement may surprise you.

What is Fertility Tea?

Fertility tea can be any combination of herbal teas that is designed to improve your fertility and support your reproductive health. Traditional Chinese medicine has used these teas for centuries to increase the chance of getting pregnant and maintain hormonal balance.

Premade tea bags such as Pink Story Fertility Tea are available, but you can also purchase Fertilitea loose leaf tea from Fairhaven Health. You can also make your very own Fertility Tea, as we’ll show you in just a few seconds!

What is Fertility Tea Made Of?

Spoiler Alert. Despite all the hype, there are no single teas that have been shown to be more efficient than others. Fertility teas are usually made with a mixture of herbs rich in antioxidants and nutrients.

Red Raspberry Leaf

Nurse-midwives often use Red raspberry leaf during pregnancy. It has the potential to increase blood flow to your uterus and help the uterine muscles fibers contract more efficiently. We’ve seen claims that this herb can prolong a short-luteal phase, potentially preventing miscarriage and help with implantation. Unfortunately, there have not been any clinical trials that evaluated the effects of this herb on pre-conception outcomes. Red raspberry leaf tea, a plant rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as calcium and iron, may offer some nutritional benefits, despite the lack of evidence.

Nettle Leaf Fertility Tea

Tea makers use the stinging nettle leaves to produce nettle leaf tea. This is done by boiling the leaves in hot water. This plant can be found in nature, so you don’t need to worry if it’s been encountered. The heat and water will deactivate its stinging properties. PubMed is not likely to have much to do with research supporting this herb’s use as a fertility booster.

What is the purpose of this ingredient in fertility teas, you ask? The nettle leaf, as an herb, is rich in chlorophyll. This substance is thought to be what makes superfoods such as spirulina so beneficial for getting pregnant. For a healthy pregnancy, nettles are a good source of folate. We do not recommend using nettle leaves in pregnancy because of possible uterine stimulant effects.

Green Tea

Although it is not known to possess any hormone-regulating properties, green tea can be found in fertility tea blends. It is one of the most researched teas and has many health benefits. Green tea is high in antioxidants, which can help reduce free radicals throughout your body. This has a direct impact on fertility. This is important because high levels of free radicals can negatively impact both egg health and sperm health, and antioxidants such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (ECGC) may help offset any potential damage.

Red Clover

For hundreds of years, red clover has been used to improve liver function. This is vital for hormone balance. Its ability to improve hormonal balance has led to its use over the years to treat cystic acne ( which many of our fellow PCOS cysters struggle with). Although it has been suggested that it can thin the cervical mucus and increase uterine flow, we have not been able find any evidence. It has also been found to possess phytoestrogen qualities.

Red clover’s phytoestrogen qualities could help in follicle formation, which may prepare the body for ovulation. Some people worry that red clover could make estrogen-sensitive conditions worse, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. But there are no studies that support Red clover’s fertility benefits in any way.

The bottom line:

Theoretically, many of the ingredients used in fertility teas have potential benefits for your reproductive health, particularly if you are struggling with infertility. The evidence for many, if not all of these ingredients is unknown. It’s not unusual to find other ingredients in the mix, such as maca, turmeric and vitex (chasteberry/chastetre), along with the ones listed above. Each of these ingredients was not reviewed individually because the evidence isn’t strong enough.

Are Fertility teas really effective?

You probably know from the review of the common ingredients that there is not much research supporting fertility teas for conceiving. This doesn’t mean that tea should be stopped entirely. It just means that it might not have the same impact on your reproductive health that we want. There are many benefits to drinking tea during your fertility journey. These are the top benefits of drinking tea when you’re pregnant:

• Reduce caffeine intake. Many of you are concerned about the effects caffeine can have on your reproductive health. The great thing about tea is its lower caffeine content than coffee. You can even find great varieties that are caffeine-free!
• Increased water intake. Increased water intake is good for your health. The main composition of a tea drink is water.
• Natural soda substitute. Natural soda is not as nutritious as artificial sweeteners or sugar. Tea is a great alternative to soda, especially if it tastes like plain water.
• It’s a relaxing ritual. A relaxing ritual. Many people enjoy brewing a cup of hot tea, such as peppermint tea, and then slowly sipping it while taking in the sights and smells. There is more to tea than its taste.

Most fertility experts will agree that antioxidants in tea can be a great way for women to improve their health and overall well-being.

Important Tea Considerations

You’ve likely noticed potential problems with fertility tea if you read the reviews on Amazon. You might be concerned about things like irregular ovulation patterns or increased spotting in your menstrual cycle. It’s something we’ve said a million times. However, it’s important to inform your healthcare provider about any natural fertility support you are taking, even if it is as simple as tea. If you healthcare provider gave you permission to drink fertility teas, here are some important considerations.

• You should only buy organic whole-leaf, non-GMO whole leaf tea products. The tea plant absorbs pesticides readily, so choosing to buy organic means no fertility-threatening toxins in your cup. Look for certified organic certifications when purchasing organic tea.
• Premade tea bags should be packaged in biodegradable sachets that are free from chemical toxins. The majority of tea bags and silk pyramids infusers are made out of materials like bleached paper, petrochemical-based nylon and polypropylene. These materials can release potentially dangerous chemicals when you immerse them in boiling hot water.
• Double-check any interactions you may have with medications. If you are already taking medication that has these functions, strong nettle tea may lower your blood pressure or blood sugar.

Fertility tea recipe

Instead of buying a pre-made fertility tea, you can make your own!

Ingredients:

2 cups of red raspberry leaf

One cup dried stingingnettle leaf

A cup dried peppermint

And One cup red clover

Instructions:

To a cup of herb blend, add 1/4 cup to a pot of coffee or tea. Cover the pot with boiling water and let it steep for 10 minutes. You can discard any leftover herbs and then you can enjoy the tea in a mug with honey or a slice of lemon.

Last Thoughts

It’s not surprising that tea is receiving positive attention for its health and wellbeing. However, there are some tea blends that may be able to support fertility. There isn’t a lot of information available to support the use fertility teas. A gentle, herbal tea made from brewed herbs is safe to drink, even though there is not much evidence to support their use. It will, however, add antioxidants to your diet which can indirectly improve fertility and reproductive health.