Most women know the importance of getting enough iron once they are pregnant, but did you know that failing to get enough iron before conception can keep you from getting pregnant?
Studies have shown that women who do not get sufficient amounts of iron may suffer anovulation (lack of ovulation) and possibly poor egg health, which can inhibit pregnancy at a rate 60% higher than those with sufficient iron stores in their blood.
When the blood does not get enough iron, anemia, or an insufficient number of red blood cells, may develop. Since it is these red blood cells that deliver oxygen to all of the body’s tissue and organs including the ovaries and uterus, this deficiency may cause the eggs stored in the ovaries to weaken over time and become unviable. Worse yet, should conception occur, anemia makes it impossible for the growing fetus’ cells to divide and grow properly. This may result in a miscarriage in some cases.
The symptoms of anemia are easy to spot including:
• mild to severe fatigue
• chronic headaches
• dizziness
• brittle or weak nails
• decreased appetite
• low blood pressure
When suspecting an iron deficiency or even anemia, most doctors will perform a simple blood test called a CBC to check hemoglobin (red blood cell) levels. If an iron deficiency is found, the patient may be instructed to increase her intake of iron rich foods and take a supplement to ward off the health and fertility affects of low iron.
If you do find out that you have low levels of iron, bringing your levels back up to a healthy level is simple. Increasing the iron in your diet can make all the difference (eating beets, spinach, beans, animal meats, pumpkin seeds, molasses, asparagus). Make sure to also include foods that help the absorption of iron like oranges, strawberries, broccoli tomatoes and green peppers.
In addition to eating a diet rich in iron, taking a whole food iron supplement makes a huge difference. One of the best iron supplements available for women finding it difficult to get pregnant and have low iron levels is Blood Builder, a 100% whole food iron with synergistic nutrients and organic beet root to help strengthen and purify the blood. Designed to help the body maintain a healthy level of iron, it is easy to tolerate with a non-binding formula (this means no constipation and no toxic accumulation of iron on the body) that is easy on the stomach.
Another important factor when looking at using an iron supplement is to make sure that it includes synergistic nutrients that are necessary for iron absorption and utilization. These nutrients are B12, Folate (folic acid) and vitamin C. Blood Builder includes all of these important nutrients in a whole food state.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for all the informations you’ve been sending me,i have Anenmia,irregular menstruation,and i am 35 years old ,i don’t really know if the items i ordered was the right herbs for me,Though am yet to receive them.i didn’t order blood builder,am on Tardeferon which my doctor presribe for me,after six years of marriage still not pregnant,Anyway i just bought fertility cleanse kit,vitex,dong quai,L-Arguinine,spirulina,evening primrose,i can’t remember the other items right now,Please Hethir if there’s anyother herbs that you think i should also buy to improve my fertility,don’t hesistate to help me,thanks.
What about if are taking a prenatal vitamins? Do you still need this iron suplement because I’m taking acupuncture since May and prenatal vit. and have a hard time getting pregnant.
Hi Hethir
Thank you for such an important article. I’d like to share my experience.
Towards the end of last year I experienced a lot of dizziness. This was especially a problem when I went to the gym and had to climb a lot of stairs. I also had a problem at the begining of my period – if I went to the steam room at the gym at this time I would actually feel so faint I could not get up.
At the begining of this year I was determined to figure it out so I went to my GP who did some blood tests. However he said these came back normal.
I was embarking on a fertility journey in all seriousness this year so I also went to a homeopath. He put my blood under a mircroscope and noticed something interesting. My blood cells centre was white in colour. He identified anemia and put me on chelated iron tablets plus loads of other vitamins and his own meds. I also later went onto B12.
I just find it interesting that the GP did not pick it up but the homeopath, using a different method, did. And I really had a difference, especially once I went for acupunture and he put a needle in my liver meridian in my foot. Hurt like hell but it really helped my anemia. I also ate liver every Sunday. I can honestly say I think that I beat the problem of anemia and now I know what to do if it comes up again. I went for a IUI procedure in July (after 6 months of diet, vitamins etc) which did not work but I will do this again at some stage. Now thanks to your article I can see the other implications for fertility, which I actually did not know about.
Another useful piece of information I picked up from Sarah Holland’s fertility conference from Marilyn Glanville was crucial: do not take your iron tablets with your other vitamins! They absorb the other vitamins and thus deplete the effectiveness of the other vitamins. She says take them separately with Vitamin C. What I landed up doing is taking most of my vitamins in the morning and then in the evening taking iron and Vitamin C mixed up in my rooibos tea.
Thanks again
Heather
Good article- I am anemic and found you on google. Thank you
Hi Hope,
All of those look good, without knowing more about you it is hard to say for sure if those may be best for your unique situation. Please let your doctor know you are taking these supplements. Thanks for your support.
All the best,
Dalene
Hi Sandra,
You can get your iron levels tested by your doctor, that way you would know if you may need to supplement iron in your diet. Some women even though they are already taking a prenatal vitamin still may need an additional iron supplement if their tested hemocrit levels are low.
Best Wishes,
Dalene
Heather,
Thanks so much for sharing your story, we greatly appreciate it.
Have a wonderful day.
Dalene
Hi, i think i am also anemic because i do have the symptoms you mentioned earlier. Is it safe for vitamins C, B12, folic, and iron be taken at one time?
Thanks for your articles.
infact i found your guidlines very useful there’s no day i don’t like reading from you.
thanks a million times.
Hi Bonita,
Those supplements have all been found to be safe to use together. Vit. C helps the absorption of iron.
All the best,
Dalene
Hi Dalene
I m 29 and been anemic since i was a child, this days I have been feeling tired often and painful chest, and dizzy most of the times with headechs. the doctor has not yet discovered the course ,I m afraid as still single may not be able to get pregnant when ready. I have been looking for this information for a while and I m now glad I read this article thank you.
vikki
Blackstrap molasses is especially high in iron and full of minerals!
I recently found out that im anemic,and i have been trying to fall pregnant for 7 months but there is no like, will i ever fall pregnant again and im streesing now.
Hi Rose,
If you can build your iron stores back up through proper diet including iron rich foods. Dark leafy green vegetables are a good source of iron, as is organic free range red meat. Red Raspberry leaf is high in iron and other important vitamins and minerals. You may also benefit from taking a whole food iron supplement. Do not give up hope, once you restore proper iron levels you should go on to carrying a healthy baby in your arms!
Dalene
Hello,
I been suffering from low iron now im anemic for some time now.. i have tried every food that i could eat with high iron,even at one point just ate alot foods that had high iron only and still iron is low, my doctor even put me on birth control stop slow down my monthy cause it was so heavy and i was loosing a lot of blood which wasnt good due to me already having low blood.. i want to have a baby and im so scared that that’s not going to happen being that i am the age of 39 and dealing with being anemic. what should i do?
Eve,
There is more to anemia than just iron consumption. There are many factors that contribute to iron absorption in the body. Having healthy digestion and gut flora as well as co-nutrients (vitamin C, b6, b12) as well as the general health of your blood. There are some herbs such as ashwagandha and dong quai that help to build the blood and deal with anemia, also drinking green juice daily (fresh juiced) may also be helpful.