Getting Pregnant Naturally (10 page)

To boost your testosterone level and promote fertility, have a heaping helping of legumes, seeds, or other soy-rich foods. Soy is a good source of isoflavonoids or phytoestrogens, compounds that function like a mild form of estrogen in the body. These compounds actually bind to estrogen receptors, preventing the body’s own estrogen from binding to the receptor. Making a few changes in your diet may be enough to help if your testosterone levels are marginal or low.

Vitamin B12 is involved in cellular replication and the
formation of genetic material and red blood cells. A deficiency of vitamin B12 (or cyanocobalamine) can lead to reduced sperm count and sperm motility. Even in the absence of a vitamin B12 deficiency, taking supplements seems to stoke the body’s sperm manufacturing systems. In one study, men with low sperm counts (less than 20 million per milliliter) took 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 daily. By the end of the study, almost one out of three men had achieved a total sperm count of more than 100 million. You should not take megadoses of vitamin B l2 without consulting a doctor; high levels of one ? vitamin can cause an imbalance in the other ? vitamins. However, taking a moderate dose as part of a B-complex supplement may help overcome a vitamin deficiency that may be contributing to your infertility problems.