Reproductive System

Nutrients connected to Reproductive System

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

• PassionflowerDocumented risk

  NIH says not to use in pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions.

• MotherwortDocumented risk

  Motherwort medicines must not be used during pregnancy, according to the European summary.

• PeriwinkleDocumented risk

  FDA advises pregnant women and women who could become pregnant not to take vinpocetine, the compound sold as periwinkle.

• Blue cohoshDocumented risk

  Used traditionally to affect the womb and labor; case reports and a review warn of harm in pregnancy. No controlled trial shows a benefit.

• PennyroyalDocumented risk

  Pennyroyal is contraindicated in pregnancy; deaths and organ failure are reported in women who used it to end a pregnancy.

• RueDocumented risk

  Rue has been taken to end pregnancy; miscarriage is listed as an effect and four deaths occurred in a poison-centre series. A safety caution: avoid in pregnancy.

• TansyDocumented risk

  Consumer reference says tansy may trigger uterine contractions and miscarriage; avoid in pregnancy.

• Vasaka (Malabar nut)Documented risk

  Reviews report womb-stimulating and abortifacient effects of vasicine in animals and lab tissue, and traditional use to end pregnancy. Avoid in pregnancy.

• Chitrak (Ceylon leadwort)Documented risk

  Animal studies report anti-implantation, abortion-like, sperm-reducing and anti-androgen effects; human data were not found.

• Trichosanthes (tian hua fen)Documented risk

  Trichosanthin from the root was used to end pregnancies and can cause severe bleeding. Avoid in pregnancy.

• Scotch broomDocumented risk

  Rated likely unsafe in pregnancy; might cause miscarriage.

• Passionflower TeaDocumented risk

  NIH says passionflower should not be used in pregnancy because it may induce uterine contractions; the EU monograph does not recommend use in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• RosemaryDocumented risk

  Rosemary leaf medicines are not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established.

• SageDocumented risk

  NCCIH says sage may be unsafe in pregnancy because of thujone; the EU committee does not recommend use in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• Saw palmettoPreliminary or mixed

  The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. Used for urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate. NIH says it is probably not helpful for this when used alone, while the EU regulator recognises a hexane extract for it; the sources disagree.

• St. John's wortDocumented risk

  NIH says it may be unsafe in pregnancy because it may raise the risk of birth defects, and it can weaken birth control pills.

• MacaPreliminary or mixed

  Trials concern sexual function, menopause symptoms and semen quality; evidence is limited and mixed.

• Black cohoshDocumented risk

  It may not be safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and safety is uncertain with hormone-sensitive breast or uterine cancer.

• ChasteberryPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for cycle-related symptoms (PMS, breast tenderness); evidence is limited.

• TribulusPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for male sexual function; testosterone did not rise robustly. Evidence is limited.

• Peony (white peony root)Documented risk

  EMA advised avoiding peony root in pregnancy because of possible abortifacient activity.

• MugwortDocumented risk

  Pregnancy caution based on traditional use and animal data; no human safety data were read.

• WormwoodDocumented risk

  The EU monograph does not recommend wormwood in pregnancy; a rat study found fewer implantation sites and pups, and thujone stimulates the uterus.

• Black hawDocumented risk

  A consumer reference rates black haw possibly unsafe in pregnancy because it might affect the uterus. This is a caution, not a benefit.

• Shepherd's purseDocumented risk

  Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended because safety is not established.

• Pleurisy rootDocumented risk

  A consumer reference rates pregnancy use unsafe because the root may stimulate the uterus and act like estrogen.

• Bayberry (wax myrtle)Documented risk

  Consumer references rate bayberry possibly unsafe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. A safety caution.

• Cuscuta seed (tu si zi)Preliminary or mixed

  The main studied area is male and female fertility, mostly with multi-herb formulas and animal work.

• Achyranthes (niu xi)Documented risk

  A Hong Kong herb database advises caution in pregnancy and PROSEA reports use to aid delivery and anti-fertility effects of an extract in mice; avoid in pregnancy.

• Moutan (tree peony root bark, mu dan pi)Documented risk

  Pregnancy and very heavy periods are listed as contraindications; formula trials for painful periods and fibroids are limited and include other herbs.

• False unicorn rootDocumented risk

  A consumer health reference advises against false unicorn root in pregnancy because of a possible uterine effect, and no formal safety review exists. This is a caution, not a benefit.

• PartridgeberryLab or animal research only

  A water extract made isolated mouse uterine tissue contract in a lab dish. This does not show an effect or safety in people.

• Thuja (northern white cedar)Documented risk

  Sources advise avoiding or minimising thuja in pregnancy and breastfeeding because safety is not established.

• Gravel root (Joe-Pye weed)Documented risk

  A consumer drug reference rates products that may contain liver-toxic alkaloids as likely unsafe in pregnancy and breastfeeding and advises avoiding gravel root.

• Papaya leafDocumented risk

  Rat studies showed effects on pregnancy outcomes and male fertility measures; no human data; avoid in pregnancy.

• Bitter leafDocumented risk

  Used to induce abortion in northern Uganda; one reported case ended in death. Avoid in pregnancy.

• TepezcohuiteDocumented risk

  Animal studies link the plant to abortion and birth defects; human data were not found.

• Vervain (European)Documented risk

  Pregnancy is a reason to avoid vervain; the Sinupret extract is labelled for no use in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• BerbereDocumented risk

  NCCIH says fenugreek is not safe in pregnancy above food amounts; rue in some recipes is poisonous in larger amounts. No berbere limit exists in the sources.

• Pueraria mirifica (kwao krua)Documented risk

  Japanese reports link supplements containing it with irregular bleeding and menstrual disorders.

• Juniper Berry OilDocumented risk

  Pregnancy and breastfeeding caution; miscarriage is listed among rare overdose effects.

• Fennel Oil (Sweet and Bitter)Documented risk

  Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended and estragole exposure should be minimized.

• Anise and Star Anise OilDocumented risk

  Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended; estragole exposure should be minimized.

• Pennyroyal Oil (Dangers)Documented risk

  Used as an abortifacient; reviews describe serious illness and death.

• Sage Oil (Dalmatian and Spanish)Documented risk

  Sage may be unsafe in pregnancy because of thujone, and use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended.

• Sage TeaDocumented risk

  Not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding (EU); NCCIH says may be unsafe in pregnancy.

• Rosemary TeaDocumented risk

  The EU committee does not recommend rosemary leaf medicines in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established.

• Alcohol-Free Beer & WineDocumented risk

  Pregnancy: no known safe amount of alcohol; no study of non-alcoholic drinks in pregnancy; labels can understate ethanol.

• Borax (Sodium Borate)Documented risk

  EU classifies borates as toxic to reproduction (category 1B, mostly animal data); a 2023 review of exposed workers found no reported effects. The question is debated.

• Prenatal and Postnatal VitaminsClinically supported

  See reproductive health: folic acid lowers neural tube defect risk; multi-nutrient products show mixed results in well-nourished groups.

• ZincDeficiency link

  Hypogonadism in males is listed as a sign of zinc deficiency.

• SeleniumEstablished role

  The NHS says selenium helps in reproduction. Effects of supplements were not reviewed in the sources we read.

• OreganoDocumented risk

  Oregano has not been studied in human pregnancy, and a 2017 review advises not going above food amounts. LactMed says the same for breastfeeding because data are lacking.

• ChamomileDocumented risk

  NCCIH says chamomile might have estrogen-like effects and could worsen estrogen-sensitive conditions such as breast or uterine cancer.

• Black seedDocumented risk

  In pregnant mice a seed extract reduced litter size and delayed some reflexes in pups. No human pregnancy data were found, so caution is advised.

• Licorice rootDocumented risk

  Large amounts in pregnancy are linked to earlier delivery, and use in pregnancy is not recommended in the EU.

• Red raspberry leafLab or animal research only

  Laboratory studies show effects on uterine smooth muscle. This has not been shown to translate into a benefit in people.

• Stinging nettlePreliminary or mixed

  The prostate is a male reproductive gland; nettle root has been studied for enlarged-prostate symptoms with limited evidence.

• Tongkat aliPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for male sexual function and testosterone; evidence mixed.

• ShatavariPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for menopause, PCOS and fertility; evidence is limited and mixed.

• KudzuDocumented risk

  Kudzu root has estrogen-like activity (isoflavones). MSK advises avoiding it with hormone-sensitive cancers and with tamoxifen.

• PunarnavaDocumented risk

  In rats a leaf extract disrupted the oestrous cycle and prevented litters; safety in human pregnancy and fertility is not established.

• OshaDocumented risk

  Osha is traditionally avoided in pregnancy because it may induce menstruation; AHPA recommended a not-for-pregnancy label in 1997.

• Horseradish and wasabiDocumented risk

  Oral allyl isothiocyanate harmed pregnant rats and embryos; no human data.

• Kutaja (kurchi)Documented risk

  The root is traditionally considered an abortifacient (a use claim, not safety data); no pregnancy safety data found.

• Black seed (nigella)Documented risk

  A mouse study of an extract during pregnancy showed smaller litters and delayed pup reflexes; no human data found, so caution is advised.

• Greater celandineDocumented risk

  EMA does not recommend use in pregnancy, and German rules list pregnancy and breastfeeding as contraindications.

• Japanese knotweed (hu zhang)Documented risk

  Emodin was linked to reproductive toxicity in lab and animal work. Pregnancy safety data for the root were not found.

• Wild indigoDocumented risk

  A consumer drug reference advises avoiding wild indigo in pregnancy; no regulator statement was found.

• Taxillus (sang ji sheng)Documented risk

  A 2022 review reports embryo toxicity; the traditional use to prevent miscarriage is unproven.

• Saptaparna (devil's tree)Lab or animal research only

  A paper cites mouse studies in which a bark extract caused congenital abnormalities, so pregnancy is a caution. Original studies not read; no human data.

• Calotropis (arka)Lab or animal research only

  In rats the latex and leaf extract lowered sex hormones and damaged testis tissue; no human data.

• Safflower ("false saffron")Documented risk

  Pregnancy safety of flower products is not known; one rat study of a food-grade extract found no reproductive harm.

• Red Raspberry Leaf TeaLab or animal research only

  Lab studies on animal and human tissue show effects on smooth muscle including the uterus; this was not tested in people drinking the tea.

• Castor OilPreliminary or mixed

  Taken by mouth to start labor in studies of late pregnancy; results mixed and safety unclear.

• Evening Primrose OilPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for PMS, menopause hot flashes and cervix ripening at term, with mixed or no-benefit results and pregnancy cautions.

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