The Relationship Between Female Fertility and Magnesium
Many people are looking for ways to start the family that they have always wanted to have. This sometimes means looking into home remedies and special treatments they can do on their own to boost their fertility. In other cases, it means speaking to the experts, like those at the Houston Fertility Center. We've helped patients throughout the Houston and Sugar Land area with the latest in state-of-the-art infertility treatments and reproductive medicine.
Part of what we do is offer patients the information that they need to empower themselves and improve the potential success of natural conception or in-office care. Right now we would like to consider the relationship between female fertility and magnesium since we have noticed it brought up online a fair amount.
What is magnesium?
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. Studies estimate that in the normal person, roughly 4 to 6 teaspoons of magnesium are present. Ideal magnesium intake tends to be 320mg for women and 420mg for men.
Magnesium is crucial for basic function and good health. This includes regulation of blood pressure, maintaining a healthy heart rate, balancing blood sugar levels, and keeping your muscles relaxed.
How important is magnesium with regard to female infertility?
Some studies have noticed a link between low magnesium/magnesium deficiency and female infertility. Among the many other functions of magnesium in the body, magnesium ensures proper blood supply to the uterus and is also important for the production of progesterone, a hormone that's important in the menstrual cycle and is sometimes called "the hormone of pregnancy."
For women who are pregnant, it's been suggested that a combination of magnesium and selenium can help reduce the risk of a miscarriage and premature birth.
How much magnesium is ideal for improving fertility?
As with all cases, overdoing a good thing can be harmful or not ideal. Women should get around 320mg of magnesium a day as noted above to make sure that their bodies function normally. When a woman is pregnant, more magnesium is helpful. Generally 350mg to 360mg should be ideal.
Everyone is different, of course, so be sure to consult with medical experts about what would be right for you.
Tips for Getting More Magnesium Into Your System
In general, you don't need to do too much to get the magnesium you need in your diet. You just need to make smart choices and eat healthy. Vitamins and dietary supplements are helpful, but a general shift in your diet should do the trick.
The following foods are rich in magnesium and good for you as well:
- Leafy greens
- Whole grains
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Dark chocolate
Keep In Mind: Magnesium Alone Is Not a Magic Bullet
While a healthy level of magnesium in your body is ideal, magnesium alone will not ensure that you get pregnant or that an IVF procedure is a success. A combination of healthy choices, smart decisions, and professional assistance are key to starting the family that you have always wanted. Be sure to keep this in mind.
Learn More About Fertility and Reproductive Medicine
For more information about fertility, pregnancy, and your many options for treatment, be sure to contact our fertility specialists today. We look forward to meeting you in person and helping you make the best possible decisions about all of these matters. Combining smart choices at home with solid treatment in the practice is a sure way to achieve success.
