It seems like every other couple I meet these days is either struggling themselves or knows someone close to them who is experiencing infertility.  Although in extreme cases,IVF may be the only route, there are often natural remedies and aids which can do just the trick and help you to conceive on your own.  For example, several herbs have a contraceptive effect on women, such as high dosages of cayenne, ginger, black cohosh, saffron, catnip, aloe, cinnamon, bee balm andSt. John's Wort, among others, all affect fertility.

Men should avoid St. John's Wort which has a negative impact on male fertility and be sure he’s getting enough  of vitamins B-12, C and E, plus zinc and selenium. Both sides of the couple should take a daily multivitamin with folic acid and eat a balanced diet. Although you certainly want to get your fill of omega 3s, do limit our fatty fish intake as they have been shown to have mercury levels that are unhealthy (i.e. tuna, mackerel, shark, and farm raised salmon). Of course, you should also go organic and hormone-free when it comes to your groceries and avoid pesticides and unnatural hormones which can affect fertiltiy and likelihood of conception.

Other foods which may improve fertility include fruits that are both colorful and high in anti-oxidants such as: red peppers, oranges, greens, mangoes, apples, figs, sweet potatoes, nuts and carrots. High calcium foods also improve the likelihood of conceiving.  For the ladies, prenatal preparation should include relaxing exercise yoga since it helps reduce the stress of trying to get pregnant.  Pre -Natal Yoga classes will teach you to strengthen the muscles of the body, used during childbirth and relaxing and meditating have powerful effects on ease of getting pregnant.  Finally, you may also want to consider acupuncture treatments which have yielded success after success in helping women to become pregnant.