How do you choose a fertility supplement you can trust?
The quickest test of any fertility supplement is transparency: does the label declare every nutrient and its amount, and does it stick to what those nutrients are authorised to claim? You would be surprised how many products fail one or both. Here is the five-point checklist we would use, whoever you buy from.
- Every ingredient declared, with its amount. A trustworthy label has nothing to hide. If a product tucks its contents behind a "proprietary blend", you cannot see whether any single nutrient is present at a meaningful level. We declare every amount on our labels, and you will find the key ones further down this page.
- Nutrients with authorised claims. In Great Britain, what a supplement may say about a nutrient is set by the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register. Look for zinc and, for men, selenium, supported by folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. The authorised wording for each is in the table below.
- A formula designed for the person taking it. Egg health and sperm health draw on different nutrients, so a women's formula and a men's formula will serve you better than one unisex pill split between two people.
- Register-honest language. Be cautious of any product that claims to boost, increase or guarantee conception. Authorised claims describe a nutrient's contribution to normal function, never an outcome. A brand that respects that line in its marketing is more likely to respect it in its formulation.
- A track record. We have been refining Conceive for Women and Conceive for Men since 2007, and every nutrient claim on this page uses the register's wording verbatim. That is the standard to hold any brand to, including us.
One more thing, because you deserve honesty on it: no supplement treats a medical cause of infertility. If you have been trying for over a year, or sooner if you are 36 or over, the NHS advises seeing your GP. A good supplement sits alongside that conversation, never in place of it.
What are these nutrients allowed to claim?
The health claims a supplement may make about a nutrient are set by law in the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register, and the authorised wording is precise. Most brands hope you will skim past that; we think you should see it exactly as written. The table below quotes the register verbatim and shows which of our formulas provides each nutrient. Amounts shown for Conceive for Men are per daily serving of two capsules.
| Nutrient |
What the GB Register authorises (verbatim) |
Conceive for Women |
Conceive for Men |
| Zinc | contributes to normal fertility and reproduction | Yes | Yes, 15 mg |
| Selenium | contributes to normal spermatogenesis | No† | Yes, 70 µg |
| Folate | contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy | Yes | Yes, 400 µg |
| Vitamin B6 | contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity | Yes | Yes, 2 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | contributes to normal red blood cell formation | Yes | Yes, 6 µg |
| Iron | contributes to normal formation of red blood cells | Yes | No |
| Vitamin E | contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress | Yes | Yes |
† Selenium is also present in Conceive for Women for its antioxidant role (protection of cells from oxidative stress); the spermatogenesis claim relates to male reproduction. Conceive for Women and Conceive for Men also contain botanicals traditionally used in fertility nutrition, including chasteberry, maca, L-arginine and L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10. These carry no authorised health claim, and we will not pretend otherwise: we include them for their traditional use. You will find full per-serving amounts on each product page.
Which formula is right for you?
The rule is simple: match the formula to the person taking it. Conceive for Women is designed around egg health and preparing for pregnancy, Conceive for Men around sperm health, and the Couple's Special pairs the two, so that if you are trying together, you each take the formula designed for you.
For women: Conceive for Women
Conceive for Women is the formula to choose if you are the one preparing your body to conceive. Each daily serving gives you zinc, which contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, folate, which contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy, and vitamin B6, which contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity, alongside vitamin B12, iron, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and chasteberry. One practical note the NHS is clear on: if you are planning a pregnancy, take folic acid from before conception until the twelfth week.
View Conceive for Women
For men: Conceive for Men
Male fertility is nutritional too, and it is the half of the equation many couples overlook. Conceive for Men provides zinc, which contributes to normal fertility and reproduction and to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, and selenium, which contributes to normal spermatogenesis, with folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, plus amino acids and botanicals traditionally used in male fertility nutrition. Worth knowing before you start: sperm take around three months to mature, so consistency matters more than intensity.
View Conceive for Men
Trying together: the Couple's Special
When you are trying as a couple, the approach that reflects the biology is one formula each, not one pill shared. The Couple's Special pairs Conceive for Women and Conceive for Men in a single order, as a one month supply or a three month supply. If you want a single practical reason to consider the three month option, it is the sperm maturation cycle above.
Why buy from FertilitySmart
Every guide on this page is written and reviewed by a named expert. If you have questions about choosing well, her guidance is a good place to start.
Pregnancy Refund OfferBecome pregnant before finishing a 3 or 6 month supply and we refund the amount left over.
How it works
Refined since 2007Trusted by tens of thousands of couples since 2007.
Register-honest claimsEvery health claim on this page uses the GB Register's authorised wording, quoted verbatim in the table above.
Real couples, real storiesRead what customers tell us about their journey.
Success Stories
Frequently asked questions
What are fertility supplements?
Fertility supplements are food supplements formulated to provide nutrients relevant to reproductive health, such as zinc, selenium, folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, for people trying to conceive. They complement a varied and balanced diet and are not a substitute for medical care.
Do fertility supplements work?
The honest answer has two parts. Nutrients with an authorised GB Register claim make a defined contribution to reproductive health: zinc contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, and selenium contributes to normal spermatogenesis. But supplements work alongside a varied diet, a healthy weight and reduced alcohol and smoking, not in place of them, and no supplement treats a medical cause of infertility.
What is the difference between a fertility supplement and a prenatal vitamin?
A prenatal vitamin focuses on nutrients for pregnancy, led by folic acid. A fertility supplement is designed for the stage you are at now, trying to conceive, and, in the case of a men's formula, includes nutrients such as selenium for spermatogenesis that a prenatal does not. Many people take a fertility supplement before conception and continue folic acid into pregnancy.
What makes a fertility supplement "advanced"?
An advanced fertility supplement goes beyond a basic prenatal multivitamin by combining nutrients that carry an authorised reproductive-health claim with botanicals traditionally used in fertility nutrition. For a fuller comparison, read advanced fertility supplements vs prenatal vitamins and what makes a fertility supplement advanced.
Are there fertility supplements for men as well as women?
Yes. We formulate Conceive for Women and Conceive for Men separately because men's and women's nutritional priorities differ. If you are trying together as a couple, the Couple's Special pairs the two.
How long do fertility supplements take to work?
There is no set timeframe, and a supplement is not a treatment. Because male reproductive cells take around three months to mature, you should allow at least three months of consistent use for a men's formula. Read how long fertility supplements take to work for more.
Are fertility supplements safe?
Taken as directed, the nutrients in these formulas are within recognised intake levels. Food supplements should not replace a varied and balanced diet. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or undergoing fertility treatment, speak to your doctor before use. Conceive for Women contains chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus); discontinue use if you become pregnant.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Conceive for Women contains chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus): not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and discontinue use if you become pregnant. If you are trying to conceive, taking medication or undergoing fertility treatment, consult your doctor before use.
