16 papers reviewed
Fertility Supplements - Expanded Evidence
1993 · RCT (double-blind) · 1 of 16
Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of luteal phase defects due to latent hyperprolactinemia
Milewicz A et al. · Arzneimittelforschung
20mg/day Vitex for 3 months normalized shortened luteal phases and corrected luteal progesterone deficits vs placebo. 2 pregnancies in Vitex group, 0 in placebo. This is the specific dose/duration protocol most Vitex fertility claims trace back to.
Read the paper ↗2013 · systematic review · 2 of 16
Vitex agnus-castus extracts for female reproductive disorders: a systematic review of clinical trials
Van Die MD et al. · Planta Medica
7 of 8 trials found Vitex superior to placebo for PMS. For latent hyperprolactinemia, comparable efficacy to bromocriptine with milder side effects across 12 RCTs.
Read the paper ↗2021 · pilot RCT · 3 of 16
The fertility outcome of royal jelly versus intrauterine insemination: a pilot RCT
Fathi Najafi T et al. · Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products
10mL vaginal royal jelly applied during the 2-week post-menstrual window achieved comparable pregnancy rate (33.3%) to IUI (40.7%, p=0.573) in 54 couples with male-factor subfertility.
Read the paper ↗2024 · meta-analysis · 4 of 16
The effect of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on anthropometric, glycemic, lipid, oxidative stress, and hormonal parameters in individuals with PCOS: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abu-Zaid A et al. · Obstetrics & Gynecology Science
ALA significantly reduced fasting glucose (SMD -0.60) and HOMA-IR (SMD -2.03) in PCOS across 7 RCTs. No significant effect on BMI, insulin, or sex hormones. Positions ALA as a glycemic-control adjunct specifically.
Read the paper ↗2024 · narrative review · 5 of 16
Minerals and the menstrual cycle: impacts on ovulation and endometrial health
Kapper C et al. · Nutrients
Magnesium supports follicular-phase oocyte maturation and luteal-phase endometrial smooth-muscle relaxation. Theorized to reduce retrograde menstruation linked to endometriosis.
Read the paper ↗2022 · RCT · 6 of 16
Effect of magnesium supplementation in improving hyperandrogenism, hirsutism, and sleep quality in women with PCOS: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Gholizadeh-Moghaddam M et al. · Health Science Reports
Null result: 250mg/day magnesium oxide for 10 weeks showed no significant improvement in testosterone, DHEAS, hirsutism, or sleep quality vs placebo in PCOS. Important counterbalance to magnesium overclaiming.
Read the paper ↗2023 · RCT · 7 of 16
Pregnancy outcomes after vaginal probiotic supplementation before frozen embryo transfer: a randomized controlled study
Thanaboonyawat I et al. · Scientific Reports
In 316 women, miscarriage was significantly lower with vaginal probiotics (9.5% vs 19.1%, p=0.02). In blastocyst-transfer subgroup, live birth rate was 35.7% vs 22.2% (p=0.03).
Read the paper ↗2022 · RCT (double-blind) · 8 of 16
Probiotic treatment with specific lactobacilli does not improve an unfavorable vaginal microbiota prior to fertility treatment
Jepsen IE et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology
Null result: 10 days of vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri/rhamnosus did not outperform placebo at correcting unfavorable vaginal microbiota (28.9% vs 40.0% improved). Duration may have been insufficient.
Read the paper ↗2024 · RCT (triple-blind) · 9 of 16
Resveratrol ameliorates mitochondrial biogenesis and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS undergoing assisted reproduction: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Ardehjani NA et al. · Journal of Ovarian Research
800mg/day resveratrol for 60 days pre-retrieval improved oocyte maturity rate, high-quality embryo rate, and reduced follicular-fluid oxidative stress in PCOS women. No significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate.
Read the paper ↗2023 · meta-analysis · 10 of 16
Efficacy of resveratrol in women with PCOS: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Fadlalmola HA et al. · Pan African Medical Journal
Significant reductions in testosterone, LH, and DHEAS vs placebo across 4 RCTs (n=218) of resveratrol in PCOS.
Read the paper ↗2025 · RCT · 11 of 16
The impact of L-arginine on uterine artery resistance and pregnancy outcomes in frozen embryo transfer for IVF candidates with recurrent implantation failure
Fazli F et al. · Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Oral L-arginine 3g/day for 20 days starting in the luteal phase reduced uterine artery resistance and raised clinical pregnancy rate (38.9% vs 11.1%, p=0.003) in women with recurrent implantation failure.
Read the paper ↗1999 · RCT · 12 of 16
Adjuvant L-arginine treatment for in-vitro fertilization in poor responder patients
Battaglia C et al. · Human Reproduction
L-arginine group had lower cancellation rates, more oocytes/embryos, better Doppler blood flow, and 3 pregnancies vs 0 in controls in poor-responder IVF patients.
Read the paper ↗2025 · systematic review · 13 of 16
Choline during pregnancy and child neurodevelopment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies
Gould JF et al. · Nutrients
Trial doses ranged 480-2000mg/day (adequate intake is 450mg/day). Evidence remains insufficient to confirm neurodevelopmental benefit despite plausible mechanism. Honest current-as-of-2025 verdict.
Read the paper ↗2018 · prospective cohort · 14 of 16
Delayed conception in women with low urinary iodine concentrations: a population-based prospective cohort study
Mills JL et al. · Human Reproduction
Moderate-to-severe iodine deficiency associated with 46% lower per-cycle chance of conceiving. 28% of iodine-deficient women had not conceived by 12 months vs 12.5% of iodine-sufficient women.
Read the paper ↗2024 · meta-analysis · 15 of 16
Vitamin C and E antioxidant supplementation may significantly reduce pain symptoms in endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Bayu P, Wibisono JJ · PLOS ONE
Vitamin C 1000mg/day + Vitamin E 1200 IU/day for approximately 8 weeks significantly reduced chronic pelvic pain (RR 7.30), dysmenorrhea (RR 1.96), and dyspareunia (RR 5.08) vs placebo across 5 RCTs.
Read the paper ↗2021 · RCT · 16 of 16
The effect of garlic tablets on endometriosis-related pains: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
Amirsalari S et al. · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
400mg/day garlic tablet (1100mcg allicin) dropped endometriosis pain scores from 6.5 to 1.8 vs placebo's slight increase (p<0.001) over 12 weeks in 120 women.
Read the paper ↗A paper's presence documents the evidence reviewed; it does not mean Filia endorses every intervention or conclusion.