Herbs are a very common way people try to treat various ailments at home. They can also help prevent diseases and improve certain health conditions, as many of them have strong medicinal properties.
For example, Ashwagandha is one of those powerful herbs that’s used as an extract to treat and help with various issues. For instance, it’s deemed to have wonderful effects on female fertility.
- Whether you struggle with fertility or want to consider taking herbs instead of medications for treating some issues, giving Ashwagandha a shot is a great idea.
- This herb is widely available in all health stores as capsules or powder, so you can choose the form that works best for you.
- It’s a very safe herb to take, but make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging and stick to the dosing.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an herb important in Ayurveda – a traditional form of alternative medicine that’s based on Indian natural healing techniques. It’s been used for centuries in various countries, and it still remains popular these days.
Ashwagandha’s botanical name is Withania somnifera, and it’s also often referred to as “Indian ginseng” or “wintery cherry.”
This herb is often used in supplements and extracts due to its strong healing properties. Because of that, it’s incredibly popular among the proponents of natural healing methods and holistic medicine.
For instance, various studies show that taking can help ease stress and anxiety since it’s classified as an adaptogen – a substance that contributes to how well your body deals with stress.
Taking this herb can also improve sleep quality, benefit athletic performance, and reduce blood sugar levels. It’s also capable of reducing inflammation and lowering your risk of various chronic conditions.
Ashwagandha’s benefits don’t end here, though. Some research also indicates that this herb has the potential to help with certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Still, more studies need to be done to show how effective this herb truly is.
What benefits does Ashwagandha have for female fertility?
Ashwagandha is one of the most popular herbs for improving female fertility for several reasons.
First of all, research shows that cortisol – a stress hormone – negatively impacts female fertility. It reduces hormone production and progesterone levels as well as negatively impacts fertility and healthy menstrual cycles.
Taking Ashwagandha extracts reduces cortisol levels, improving female fertility.
What’s more, studies show that regularly taking Ashwagandha supplements help people cope with stress. This can make it easier for women to get pregnant, increasing fertility and keeping the reproductive system healthy.
In addition, Ashwagandha has a positive effect on menstrual cycles as well. Irregular time of the month makes it much harder to conceive as it’s hard to predict when the woman is ovulating.
Fortunately, taking Ashwagandha helps regulate your menstrual cycle, making it easier to conceive. This, in turn, makes your periods more predictable, enabling you to calculate when you’re most likely to be ovulating.
Ashwagandha is also believed to enhance the endocrine system. As a result, it regulates hormone production – especially the ones that are responsible for conception and fertility.
It means that taking this herb can prevent hormonal imbalance, especially in connection with some hormonal medication.
Because of that, Ashwagandha can be used to treat female infertility issues.
In fact, there are many people who claim that taking this herbal supplement made it easier for them to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy.
Plus, Ashwagandha has wonderful benefits for the female reproductive system after pregnancy. For instance, it helps return your menstrual cycles back to normal, improves sleep quality, and reduces the risk of postpartum depression.
Another benefit of Ashwagandha after pregnancy is that it increases milk production when breastfeeding.
Many women suffer from low milk supply for various reasons. One of the most common ones, though, is stress and anxiety. So, since taking Ashwagandha reduces stress and anxiety, it can help with milk production.
Because of that, there are many benefits of Ashwagandha for women.
Can taking Ashwagandha negatively impact female fertility?
Studies haven’t found any adverse effects of Ashwagandha on female fertility. In fact, there are only positives to taking this herbal supplement, especially if you’re trying to conceive.
In Ayurveda, people also believe that taking Ashwagandha is safe during pregnancy as well. However, the research is mixed on that, so you may want to refrain from taking this herb when pregnant.
Can taking Ashwagandha help during IVF?
As previously mentioned, taking Ashwagandha has positive effects on lowering cortisol levels and soothing your nervous system. It also eases anxiety, helps you sleep, and contributes to calmness.
Additionally, it can make the whole IVF journey less unpleasant, especially when it comes to any side effects.
As a result, taking Ashwagandha when undergoing IVF treatment can be beneficial. In fact, it can make the treatment much more effective, increasing the risk of conception and staying pregnant.
15 Facts About Ashwagandha
1. Is Ashwagandha dangerous to take?
Generally, Ashwagandha is a very safe herbal supplement. So, in moderate doses, there’s no harm in taking it.
However, some people should avoid it. For instance, individuals with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer should steer clear of Ashwagandha.
Similarly, those on certain types of medications, including benzodiazepines (for anxiety, insomnia, and seizures), anticonvulsants (for epilepsy), and barbiturates (for insomnia and anxiety), should avoid taking Ashwagandha supplements.
What’s more, some studies show that high doses of Ashwagandha supplements can cause miscarriage. So, it might be best to avoid taking it during pregnancy.
Aside from that, Ashwagandha supplements are very safe.
2. Can I take Ashwagandha when trying to conceive?
Taking Ashwagandha helps lower your cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone. It also lowers stress and anxiety, increasing the odds of conception.
In addition, Ashwagandha isn’t dangerous for women when trying to conceive. It also doesn’t contain any substances or ingredients that reduce the likelihood of conception.
So, it’s a safe herbal supplement to take when trying to get pregnant.
3. Can taking Ashwagandha lower my libido?
There aren’t many successful studies that show whether taking Ashwagandha lowers or improves your libido. But it does help with several issues that can contribute to higher libido.
For instance, taking Ashwagandha reduces stress levels, which might improve your sexual desire. It also lowers anxiety and depression, which can make it easier to achieve sexual arousal, both for women and men.
4. Is Ashwagandha beneficial for male fertility?
Ashwagandha has plenty of health benefits, and some of them include boosting testosterone levels in men. This, in turn, increases male fertility.
Studies show that taking Ashwagandha supplements can increase sperm count, improve sperm motility, and increase semen volume and concentration.
Because of that, Ashwagandha supplements and extracts can be as effective for male as it is for female fertility.
5. Does Ashwagandha have any side effects?
Most people don’t experience any side effects when taking Ashwagandha. Certain people might have some, but they’re usually not severe.
Some of the most common side effects that people have reported include upper gastrointestinal discomfort, drowsiness, diarrhea, and indigestion.
Still, most people don’t experience them, and if they do, these symptoms pass quickly.
6. How fast can you see Ashwagandha’s effects?
Just like with any herb or medication, Ashwagandha’s benefits aren’t instant. It takes some time for the herb to accumulate in your body, leading to any visible improvements.
In fact, some people report that it may take up to several months to notice any significant benefits. So, make sure to be patient.
7. Should you take Ashwagandha with food?
According to studies and reports, there’s no difference in the effects and health benefits of Ashwagandha based on the method you take it.
This herb is available in various forms: pills, capsules, or powder. Some people might find it easier to have it with food, though. Supplements are also much easier for your body to absorb when they’re taken with food.
So, you might want to take them with breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
8. Can you take Ashwagandha every day?
Just like with other supplements, taking Ashwagandha every day is ideal. That way, you can see the benefits as quickly as possible.
But make sure that you stick to the recommended dosage. This is important since it’s definitely possible to overdose on Ashwagandha, which can lead to severe side effects.
9. Can Ashwagandha cause weight gain?
Ashwagandha is an herb that doesn’t contain any calories. So, taking it won’t lead to weight gain.
It also reduces stress and anxiety levels, which can lower the risk of stress-induced binge-eating in people prone to it. So, in that sense, taking Ashwagandha can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Still, experts haven’t found any concrete evidence that Ashwagandha is beneficial for weight loss or weight management as a result of any compounds it contains.
10. How does Ashwagandha taste like?
Ashwagandha has a bitter taste. Because of that, most people prefer to take it with food or blend it in smoothies to avoid the unpleasant taste.
If you want to mix Ashwagandha with food or any other drinks, choose this herb in a powdered form. This will make it easier to blend and mask the bitterness.
11. Does Ashwagandha mess with your hormones?
Ashwagandha isn’t a hormonal supplement. It’s an herb that has natural medicinal properties that can positively influence your hormones. But it doesn’t cause hormonal imbalance.
On the contrary, studies show that taking Ashwagandha can help with balancing your hormone levels, especially if you have a hormonal imbalance.
It can also benefit people on birth control who suffer from various side effects.
12. Is Ashwagandha good for egg quality?
Certain randomized studies show that taking Ashwagandha supplements can support ovulation and egg growth. This is because it impacts certain hormones that are responsible for the health of the eggs.
As a result, taking Ashwagandha can possibly prevent miscarriage by ensuring egg implementation. It can also reduce pain and unpleasant symptoms during the implantation period.
13. Can Ashwagandha be an aphrodisiac?
Thanks to a reduction in stress levels and improvement in mood, Ashwagandha has been long considered an aphrodisiac. It can help support libido and increase cervical mucus production.
As a result, it may increase your sexual desire, boosting the risk of conception in the long run.
Unfortunately, Ashwagandha isn’t very tasty, so it’s difficult to consume it on its own as an aphrodisiac. But if you mix it in a smoothie or take it with food, you can reap some wonderful libido-increasing health benefits.
14. Can taking Ashwagandha cause miscarriage?
Even though it has plenty of positive health effects, some people believe that taking Ashwagandha during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage.
Some studies show that taking Ashwagandha increases your risk of miscarriage and is rated as “likely unsafe” by many health organizations during pregnancy. While the research is mixed, it’s definitely something worth keeping in mind.
So, just as it’s best to avoid seafood during pregnancy, you might want to stay away from Ashwagandha as well.
15. Can Ashwagandha helps with menopause symptoms?
Taking Ashwagandha may alleviate some unpleasant symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, urinary issues, and many others. There is no singular treatment for menopause, so taking herbal supplements can be very beneficial.
Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause, and they can be quite debilitating. Fortunately, taking Ashwagandha is very effective against this particular symptom.
Still, more research needs to be done to fully comprehend the benefits of this herb when it comes to menopause. But if your symptoms are very bothersome, supplementing your diet with Ashwagandha can be a wonderful idea.
Conclusion
As you can see, Ashwagandha has wonderful health benefits for female fertility. From boosting libido to increasing the risk of conception, taking this herbal extract is a great way if you’re trying to conceive.
In addition to improving female fertility, Ashwagandha also has many other health benefits. Some of them include better sleep quality, reduced anxiety and depression, and a lower risk of certain mental conditions.
So, taking Ashwagandha is a wonderful idea for women.
Sources: PMC, National Library of Medicine, and Wiley