Teas for Fertility: Warm Drinks in the Cooler Months
I just got in from a brisk hike in 35 degree weather and there is nothing like coming home to a nice warm cup of tea. I actually have a kettle that has green tea, white tea, black tea and a french press setting for various hot water temperatures. It brings me constant joy to use it.
What are the best teas for fertility?
Drinking a cup of tea is an opportunity to stimulate all 5 senses of the body through its comforting warmth, the satisfying sound of the perfect sip, and its rich color, aroma, and flavor. But, the benefits of tea don’t end there. Did you know that drinking herbal tea may also support women’s health and increase fertility potential? There are fertility teas.
I often get lots of questions from clients. Can I drink this? Eat this? What to do to get pregnant can be confusing. When TTC, we’re looking for fertility boosting properties in our food, supplements, and even what we drink.
There are fertility herbs to help women get pregnant and tea is one easy way to consume them. There’s a huge market of fertility teas out there with claims to solve a variety of women’s health concerns related to fertility (endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, hormone imbalance) in addition to helping women get pregnant. These teas focus on specific “fertility boosting” ingredients from the leaves, flowers, roots, and stems of plants that may support healthy hormones, ovulation, egg quality, cervical fluid production, and overall uterine health.
Some of these claims are based purely on anecdotal evidence and historical uses. But what does science have to say about tea for fertility? Research is ongoing, but there’s already promising evidence out there to support the benefits of drinking herbal tea for fertility. Are you a woman TTC (trying to conceive) or interested in supporting your overall fertility? Read on to learn about teas for fertility.
Nettle Tea
Nettle, burn nettle, or stinging nettle is an herb with a long history of use in traditional medicine for everything from arthritis and muscle aches to lactation. I actually like it as a good source of iron. A recent study examined the therapeutic effect of nettle extract on hormone balance among women with hyperandrogenism (high male sex hormones). Nettle tea for fertility is a common remedy. If you have early hair loss, facial hair (including upper lip or chin hair), or your doctor has told you your testosterone levels are high, then this would be considered high androgen levels (like testosterone). Having high androgen levels can reduce a woman’s ability to ovulate and therefore conceive. The study found that those treated with nettle had a significant decrease in free and total testosterone in the blood. Additionally, those treated with nettle had a significant decrease in DHEA levels, which is a precursor to testosterone.
Though these claims are promising, this study focuses on dried nettle extract instead of tea, which is more potent. Other studies show conflicting information on its effect.
Red Clover Tea
Trifolium pratense, commonly known as red clover or wild clover, is an herb that belongs to the legume family alongside beans and peas. Used traditionally for respiratory and circulatory health, red clover may have potential to treat low estrogen and associated symptoms like irritability and vaginal dryness. Red clover contains plant compounds called phytoestrogens that may stimulate the secretion of estrogen. Red clover has also been found to contain isoflavones, plant chemicals that can produce an estrogen-like effect in the body..
Red Clover is also believed to increase blood flow throughout the body. Improved circulation to the ovaries and uterus has been shown to improve cervical fluid production, egg quality, and implantation. Evidence of these claims is mixed and many women already are estrogen-dominant, meaning you have more estrogen than needed. So this tea is definitely not for everyone.
Dandelion Tea
You might have heard of dandelion tea for skin? Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is often thought of as an annoying garden weed but, historically, this flowering plant has been used to treat a variety of ailments. Its leaves, roots, and petals are found to be rich in a variety of vitamins (A, E, and K), minerals ( folate, magnesium, calcium, and potassium), and plant compounds that act as powerful antioxidants.
A recent study examining the effects of dandelion extract on women with poor ovarian reserve (otherwise known as low AMH) and ovarian endocrine function found an increase in hormone receptors, progesterone and estradiol levels, and proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells. Combined these effects may improve overall ovarian endocrine function and improve fertility. It can help clear up skin issues as well.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Of all the teas out there promoted for fertility, red raspberry leaf tea for fertility is one of the most popular and highly promoted. Not to be confused with red raspberry flavored teas (which taste like raspberry), red raspberry leaf tea has been used as an herbal remedy for women’s health and gynecological issues for hundreds of years.
Red raspberry Leaf tea is considered a tea for the uterus. It doesn’t taste like raspberry (much to my disappointment as I like raspberries). It just tastes like an herbal grassy taste to be honest. (I add honey to it). Also known as “the women’s herb,” red raspberry leaf tea has known benefits such as it is rich in vitamins and minerals important for women’s health like vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. What makes red raspberry leaf tea really special is that it’s rich in plant compounds—flavonols, anthocyanins, procyanidins, phenolic acids and esters—which have been shown in various studies to have powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties. All good things for fertility when you want to reduce inflammation and have the body working optimally.
Some studies have shown an association between red raspberry leaf tea and longer luteal phase (second half of your cycle after you ovulate) during the menstrual cycle, supporting proper implantation and pregnancy. Chasteberry is another herb for fertility that helps with luteal phase, but it is not found in tea usually. As we get older, our cycles shorten and sometimes the luteal phase is not long enough for the embryo to implant. Looking at the luteal phase is something I always review in my coaching program because it is critically important.
Others suggest it may tone the lining of the uterus to support healthy pregnancy.
Cautionary notes about drinking teas for fertility
Red raspberry leaf tea has also been associated with an increase in uterine contractions so, it is not recommended for pregnant women until week 36 when you want to tone the uterus for labor. Once you TTC, stop having red raspberry leaf tea until you know you are not pregnant (this is true with all herbs).
It is especially important for pregnant women to talk to their physician or healthcare provider before trying any tea or herbal supplement. The things you do to get pregnant may be contraindicated in pregnancy (as is the case with many herbal supplements and teas). I provide the option for my fertility clients to do prenatal coaching (and post-partum) with Simplina when they get pregnant, because the body’s needs change dramatically. What you eat, drink and supplements you take when TTC is different than when you are pregnant and postpartum especially with breastfeeding.
Overall benefits of drinking herbal tea
Herbal tea is a tasty, caffeine-free way to support your fertility and overall well being. Enjoy it nice and warm in winter months or iced in summer months. Not all herbals teas are for all women as noted above. It is really best to talk to a provider—naturopath, herbalist, or our practice on what to do that matches your health profile.
A note about water: it needs to be clean
When we think about clean food and drinks for fertility, I need to mention water. Water is critical for your body to be hydrated. I’m constantly asked: is tap water safe for pregnancy? Are water filters safe for pregnancy?
Not all water is the same. A recent review of point-of-use water filters found that many are effective in removing traditional contaminants regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act but may not remove non-traditional contaminants of interest such as certain chemicals and pesticides. The researchers concluded that more research is needed. Certain water filters may offer more protection by using advanced filtration techniques to remove more contaminants.
A thought about containers
Be thoughtful of the container you use to brew, drink, and/or store your tea. Certain plastic containers may contaminate your tea with the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked in recent studies on women undergoing IVF to reduced number of eggs at retrieval, fertilization, estradiol levels, and fertilization rates. Research is still pending as results are mixed. I recommend using a water filter in your house that is not plastic. Best to have one that is a whole house filter if you can and if not, at least under the kitchen sink to make it easy.
The bottom line on herbal teas for fertility: overall evidence
Overall, the evidence on the effects of herbal tea for women’s health is not straightforward.
There’s no one-size-fits-all, because the teas each support different aspects of the body. Do you need to support ovulation? Luteal phase? Estrogen? Those are very different support systems that you need guidance on before moving forward. Herbs can be powerful and they can work—but they need to be used correctly.
Though most herbs, plants, and flowers used in tea are generally safe to drink, some are associated with drug or other health interactions that may lead to side effects. Stay safe by talking to a healthcare professional about herbal teas you would like to try and always inform them of any medications (even over the counter) that you are taking.
Need help on what to do? We are here to help you sort not just tea- but food, supplements, exercise, and a lifestyle plan to support getting pregnant and having a healthy baby. Join us today!