Myo-Inositol and D-Chiro Inositol: The Key To Regular Periods, Timely Ovulation, and Egg and Sperm Health

By Chris D. Meletis, N.D.

For women trying to conceive, there are three critical factors in becoming pregnant. Those factors are:

1. Hormone Balance

2. Ovulation/Cycle Regulation

3. Egg Quality

Each of these factors is important for fertility. Two of your best allies in addressing all of these fertility challenges are myo-inositol and D-chiro inositol. These two substances are found naturally throughout the body and are well-researched for their ability to maintain healthy testosterone levels, regulate the menstrual cycle, and help eggs to be healthy and ready for fertilization.*

Balances Your Hormones*

Myo-inositol and D-chiro inositol keep testosterone levels balanced by virtue of their ability to support healthy glucose levels and the way the body uses insulin.*

Healthy blood sugar levels are associated with normal testosterone levels. When there’s too much circulating glucose in the blood, testosterone levels may increase. Testosterone levels that are too high may lead to anovulation (a lack of ovulation). Ovulation is important because to get pregnant, you need to have to sex in your fertile window, which is three to five days before you ovulate.

Myo-inositol and D-chiro inositol are involved in healthy ovulation in part by restoring testosterone balance. In two reviews of the medical literature, including 34 randomized-controlled trials, the reviewers concluded that inositol supplementation supported normal ovulation in women.^{1, 2} According to one group of scientists, “inositol was associated with significantly improved ovulation rate” and it “increased the frequency of menstrual cycles.”^2*

Helps You Have a Regular Menstrual Cycle*

Having regular menstrual cycles is tied to regular ovulation, and combining myo-inositol with D-chiro inositol is a good way to keep your menstrual cycles regular. One study of 70 women ages 15 – 24 who had delayed menstrual cycles found that combining myo-inositol with D-chiro inositol was effective at making the women’s menstrual cycles more regular.^3*

Supports Egg Quality*

The number of eggs a woman has is defined at birth and never increases. Therefore, it’s critical to maintain your egg quality as you get older, since you’re not able to make more eggs.

Studies lend support to the ability of myo-inositol plus D-chiro inositol to support egg quality. For example, in women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a combination of myo-inositol and D-chiro inositol improved ooctye cytoplasm quality.⁴ The research shows that the most effective approach is to combine myo-inositol together with D-chiro inositol rather than using D-chiro inositol alone.^4*

Aids in Male Fertility, Too*

The sperm contain mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cells. Healthy mitochondria churn out the body’s primary fuel source called ATP. By keeping the mitochondria healthy in the sperm, myo-inositol gives the sperm more energy to move, known as sperm motility.^{5, 6*}

Dr. Chris Meletis

Dr. Chris Meletis is an educator, international author and lecturer. His personal mission is “Changing World’s Health One Person at a Time.” Dr Meletis has authored 18 books and over 200 national scientific articles in journals including Natural Health, Alternative and Complementary Therapies, Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Life Extension, Natural Pharmacy, and PubMed.gov articles.

Dr. Meletis served as Dean of Naturopathic Medicine and Chief Medical Officer for 7 years for the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (now the National University of Natural Medicine). He was awarded the 2003 Physician of the Year by the American Association of Naturopathic Physician of the Year by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. He has a deep passion for helping the underprivileged and spearheaded the creation of 16 free natural medicine healthcare clinics in the Portland metropolitan area of Oregon.

References

1. Arentz S, Smith CA, Abbott J, Bensoussan A. Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):500.
2. Pundir J, Psaroudakis D, Savnur P, et al. Inositol treatment of anovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomised trials. Bjog. 2018;125(3):299-308.
3. Kachhawa G, Senthil Kumar KV, Kulshrestha V, Khadgawat R, Mahey R, Bhatla N. Efficacy of myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol combination on menstrual cycle regulation and improving insulin resistance in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized open-label study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022;158(2):278-284.
4. Mendoza N, Galan MI, Molina C, et al. High dose of d-chiro-inositol improves oocyte quality in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing ICSI: a randomized controlled trial. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2020;36(5):398-401.
5. Governini L, Ponchia R, Artini PG, et al. Respiratory Mitochondrial Efficiency and DNA Oxidation in Human Sperm after In Vitro Myo-Inositol Treatment. J Clin Med. 2020;9(6).
6. Azizi M, Cheraghi E, Soleimani Mehranjani M. Effect of Myo-inositol on sperm quality and biochemical factors in cryopreserved semen of patients with Asthenospermia. Andrologia. 2022;54(10):e14528.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.