Infertility Help: Inositol, PCOS, and Fertility
Two research groups conducted studies with the dietary supplement myoinositol and PCOS. The studies concluded that myoinositol provided significant benefits for women suffering from PCOS, and gave them an alternative to the diabetes drugs that doctors usually prescribe for PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is on the leading causes of infertility, and can also cause unwanted hair growth, acne, and difficult menstrual cycles. Most doctors prescribe diabetes drugs to help regulate insulin levels as a treatment for PCOS, but these drugs have many side effects and don’t address the underlying issue.
Myo-inositol, a form of inositol, is a member if the B-complex family of vitamins. It is usually deficient in women with PCOS.
Another study published in the Gynecological Endocrinology journal put 25 women on a combination of folic acid and inositol for 6 months. The results, 22 out of the 25 patients restored at least one spontaneous menstrual cycle during treatment, and 18 maintained normal ovulatory activity during the follow up period. 10 pregnancies (40% of patients) were obtained.
Based on these two studies, Inositol seems to be an effective treatment for PCOS, and for restoring fertility. It has no side effects, and is relatively inexpensive. For women who are trying to get pregnant, it’s ideal to combine this treatment with improved diet and exercise, so that insulin problems aren’t carried into pregnancy.
Important Supplements
Natural Progesterone Cream
The role of progesterone is key
After ovulation, progesterone production is triggered by Luteinizing Hormone (LH) which stimulates the corpus leteum (the remnant egg sac) in the ovary to produce progesterone. One of the main actions of progesterone with fertility is to help support a developing embryo.
If pregnancy occurs, the production of progesterone from the corpus luteum continues for about 7 weeks (it is then produced by the placenta for the duration of the pregnancy). If pregnancy did not occur, the period begins 14 days after ovulation. When fertilization does not occur, the corpus leteum disintegrates, which causes the level of progesterone to fall and the endometrial tissue to break down and shed as menstruation.
Progesterone supports regular ovulation, hormone balance, and can prevent miscarriage. For women trying to get pregnant, an adequate amount of natural progesterone is crucial because it prepares the uterine wall for the implantation of the fertilized egg. Progesterone support in pregnancy has been in use for nearly 60 years. Its initial use was in patients who had habitual spontaneous abortion caused by luteal phase deficiency.
Luteal phase deficiency is due to a failure of the function of the corpus luteum in the production of progesterone. It is known that progesterone from the corpus luteum is indispensable during the first seven weeks of pregnancy. The study showed a significant reduction in preterm delivery rates with the supplementation of progesterone. The use of progesterone to prevent preterm labor has been documented in medical literature for over 30 years.
Progesterone has the following important functions:
- It maintains the lining of the uterus which makes it possible for a fertilized egg to attach and survive
- Makes cervical mucous accessible by sperm
- Supports the developing embryo
- Keeps the uterine lining from deteriorating
- Prevents immune rejection of the developing baby & allows for full development of the fetus through pregnancy
- It causes “maturation” of the endometrium, converting it to a secretory type
- It stimulates the decidualization of the endometrium required for implantation
- Inhibits myometrial contractions so your body does not reject the embryo
On another note, it increases libido around the time of ovulation so you are “ready to go”.
How do I know if I'm low in progesterone?
There are many signs that may show up in the body if you do not have enough progesterone in your system during the correct times of your cycle.
- Recurrent early miscarriage
- No period
- Not ovulating
- Endometriosis
- PCOS
- PMS
- Cramps during menses
- Blood clotting
- Swollen breasts
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Loss of libido
- Obesity
- Depression
- Water retention
- Low thyroid
- Facial hair
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Foggy thinking
- Memory lapse
- Incontinence
- Tearful
- Depressed
- Sleep disturbances
- Heart palpitation
- Bone loss
How to Use Natural Progesterone
Transdermal application (through the skin) has been found to be one of the most effective ways to use natural progesterone. It is absorbed through the skin into the underlying fat, which helps to slowly allow progesterone into the blood. This way of application helps the progesterone to be "time released" into the blood stream. To closely mimic the body's progesterone cycle, it is best to use progesterone cream twice a day.
Using progesterone cream for fertility:
Natural progesterone cream is easily and quickly absorbed into the body through th skin within seconds. So you can apply it essentially anywhere as long as you rotate locations of application. The best areas for application are places that have capillary blood flow such as:
- Face
- Neck
- Upper chest
- Breasts
- Inner arms
- Palms of hands and feet
Suggested dosage is 40 mg daily, divided into one 20 mg application in the morning and one 20 mg application in the evening, during the two weeks before your period. Progesterone use should begin directly after ovulation, which is usually day 14 in the cycle (day 1 is the start of your period), and ending usage once menstruation begins. If you want to know when you ovulate, you can use an Ovulation Test Kit. Once ovulation is detected, progesterone cream would be started the following day.

Jodi Shabazz
Author