Herbal Remedies for Infertility
Question
I am 23 years old and I have been married for three yrs. My husband and I have been trying to conceive now for four years. I have used the ovulation test to tell me when I am ovulating but no pregnancy yet. I am thinking about trying a fertility pill called Ovulex and I just wanted to know if you would agree with that decision or any other procedure.
Answer
Last Updated: July 24, 2013
I am sorry to hear that you have not been able to conceive after 4 years. I am going to assume that you have been charting your cycles and that they have been regular in length. It sounds like the ovulation test has been indicating a high probability that you have been ovulating regularly. There are still many pieces to the question to be filled in, though. For instance, has your husband gotten a physical and a semen analysis performed? Male factors are a large part of infertility. Have you been pregnant before or have had any procedures or operations on the reproductive organs? What are your cycles like now, such as the mucus production and quality of it?
The base of your question was about Ovulex, a non-prescription formulary composed of herbal compounds made by a company called Selmedica. I could find no reference to Ovulex in the PDR non- prescription formulary and was able to only get information off of their website ovulex.com. I have not had time to research the compounds to verify the company’s claims that the ingredients will balance hormones and restore one’s health. There doesn’t seem to be anything that would harm you or your child.
The question I would ask, still, is why have you not conceived? If you do have a hormone abnormality, it might be better to know which one and have it corrected. For instance, if the progesterone levels were low, you would run the risk of miscarriage. Ovulex won’t take care of that. Low thyroid can affect pregnancy outcome and Ovulex will not act as a thyroid replacement.
While there doesn’t seem to be any harm in trying the Ovulex, I would still advocate locating a certified NFP teacher who will teach you to chart your cycles. After two months, the teacher can refer you to a physician who will know when to order appropriate tests and help you and your husband correct the reason for the infertility. Of course, your husband should see a physician for a physical and semen analysis. Semen can be obtained by using a semen collection device—a condom with small perforations. The perforations allow enough semen through during a normal act of intercourse but retains enough for analysis.
I hope that this information is helpful for you!
Gretchen Marsh, D.O.
The base of your question was about Ovulex, a non-prescription formulary composed of herbal compounds made by a company called Selmedica. I could find no reference to Ovulex in the PDR non- prescription formulary and was able to only get information off of their website ovulex.com. I have not had time to research the compounds to verify the company’s claims that the ingredients will balance hormones and restore one’s health. There doesn’t seem to be anything that would harm you or your child.
The question I would ask, still, is why have you not conceived? If you do have a hormone abnormality, it might be better to know which one and have it corrected. For instance, if the progesterone levels were low, you would run the risk of miscarriage. Ovulex won’t take care of that. Low thyroid can affect pregnancy outcome and Ovulex will not act as a thyroid replacement.
While there doesn’t seem to be any harm in trying the Ovulex, I would still advocate locating a certified NFP teacher who will teach you to chart your cycles. After two months, the teacher can refer you to a physician who will know when to order appropriate tests and help you and your husband correct the reason for the infertility. Of course, your husband should see a physician for a physical and semen analysis. Semen can be obtained by using a semen collection device—a condom with small perforations. The perforations allow enough semen through during a normal act of intercourse but retains enough for analysis.
I hope that this information is helpful for you!
Gretchen Marsh, D.O.
Answered By:
Gretchen Marsh, D.O.
Dr. Marsh graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in 1987 in Pomona, CA and is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. She has been certified as a NaProTechnology® Medical Consultant (NaPro) and Creighton model Fertility Care System (CrMS) teacher since 2001. She and her husband, Jon, have 5 sons and live in the Reno region, where she sees patients in person, in addition to her telehealth services offered via MyCatholicDoctor.com
