Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) has been used for centuries to treat a variety of health conditions. One of the most notable benefits of this oil is its ability to promote fertility in both men and women. In this article, we will explore how evening primrose oil can help with fertility.
What is Evening Primrose Oil?
Evening primrose oil is a plant-based oil that is extracted from the seeds of the evening primrose plant. The oil contains high amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid that is essential for optimal health. GLA is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce the symptoms of various health conditions.
The oil can be helpful to the body in various ways:
• Treat various skin conditions – rosacea, acne eczema
• Relief of PMS discomfort
• Relief of swelling and joint pain
And, although it’s known to offer these other benefits, it’s known more for its benefit to help women conceive.
How Does Evening Primrose Oil Help With Fertility?
ThEvening primrose oil can help with fertility in several ways:
1. Balancing Hormones
EPO contains GLA, which is converted into prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that play a vital role in regulating various bodily functions, including the menstrual cycle. By increasing the production of prostaglandins, EPO can help balance hormones, which is necessary for optimal fertility.
2. Improving Cervical Mucus
Cervical mucus plays a crucial role in fertility. It helps sperm travel through the cervix and into the uterus. EPO can help improve the quality and quantity of cervical mucus, making it easier for sperm to reach the egg.
3. Regulating Ovulation
EPO can help regulate ovulation by promoting the production of fertile cervical mucus and reducing the risk of hormonal imbalances that can interfere with ovulation.
4. Increasing Blood Flow
EPO is a vasodilator, which means it can help dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow to the reproductive organs. Increased blood flow to the ovaries and uterus can improve their function, thereby increasing the chances of conception.
5. Reducing Inflammation
Inflammation can interfere with fertility by disrupting hormone balance and damaging the reproductive organs. EPO’s anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce inflammation, thus promoting optimal fertility.
How should you use it?
You can usually find the evening primrose oil in the form of a soft gelcap oral medication, usually in over-the-counter format. It can be found on the Internet or in your local health food store. If you’ve tested positive on a pregnancy test, you need to stop taking Evening Primrose Oil immediately, as it can cause complications with the pregnancy. It should be taken with food to avoid a distressed stomach at the lowest dosage possible until you know how it will work for you.
Be careful using Evening Primrose Oil
It’s vitally important that you know what can happen if you use evening primrose oil during pregnancy. The supplement has been known to result in uterine contractions, harmful to the growing embryo and pregnancy. It’s even been known to induce miscarriages. Therefore, if you think you could be pregnant you should immediately stop using Evening Primrose Oil.
The majority of women will use Evening Primrose Oil up to ovulation and stop its use until their next period to ensure they’re not using it when they may possibly be pregnant.
At Zoom Baby we offer Evening Primrose Oil as a fertility aid. Evening Primrose Oil is just one of the many fertility supplements that we offer, with FREE same day posting on all orders over £20!
Photo by Zoom Baby
This post first appeared in July 2014 and has been updated since.
Zoom Baby is a leading supplier of Pregnancy Tests and Ovulation Test Kits
