Women are becoming empowered by learning about potential natural health solutions for common health problems. They are getting rid of products riddled with hormone disrupting chemicals and ingredients, and are making changes to move towards healthier options with the goal of lowering the toxic load on the body. We know sea moss offers an impressive nutritional profile with a diverse lineup of trace minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. It is one of a kind in that it contains 92 of the 102 minerals the body needs to be healthy. In this article, we will look at how these nutrients can positively affect sexual health and fertility in women.

Hormone Disruptors & Fertility

Some of these toxic ingredients cause more harm than good – altering hormones and exposing the body to unnecessary carcinogens that can have lasting effects on overall health and fertility. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, women aged 15 to 49 years with no prior births, 1 in 5 (19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying (infertility). Additionally, 1 in 4 (26%) women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term (impaired fecundity).

If you’ve never seen these statistics in writing, you might be surprised that 1 in 5 women struggle with infertility. You more than likely know multiple people struggling with this condition; a sister, cousin, friend, or even you.

While some issues are more complex than simply throwing away toxic products and moving in a more natural direction, we know for certain that exposure to endocrine disruptors during adulthood have consequences for female fertility (1).

Given this information, women can make informed decisions about the products they are using in and on their bodies.

Benefits of Sea Moss For Women

Aside from sexual wellness, sea moss can also benefit women in other ways. These include, but are not limited to, supporting the immune system, enhancing skin health, boosting energy levels, healthy digestion, and cardiovascular health. You can read more about these benefits in the articles linked below:

Why Use Sea Moss? 7 Potential Benefits

Benefits of Purple Sea Moss For Skin

4 Ways Sea Moss Can Support Female Reproductive Health

Irish Sea Moss contains high levels of iodine. The iodine in sea moss is the beginning of a domino effect of benefits for women’s reproductive health.

These underwater algae also contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients crucial for the body’s pre- and post-natal needs.  Let’s dive in to 5 of the different ways sea moss can most notably support women’s sexual health and fertility.

1. Thyroid Function

First and foremost, iodine impacts the function of the thyroid. When the thyroid is not functioning properly (hypothyroidism, thyroid autoimmunity, etc) fertility is directly affected. There is continued evidence supporting an important role of thyroid hormone in regulation of reproductive tissues at many levels (2).

Iodine is an element that is needed for the production of thyroid hormone (TSH). The body does not make iodine, so it is an essential part of your diet (3). TSH is crucial in regulating weight, body temperature, mood, and energy production.

Sea moss is a natural source of iodine that can be consumed in your diet to help support healthy thyroid function, thus having a leading to a potential positive impact on fertility.

2. Healthy Weight Management

Women with a body mass index (BMI) above 27 are three times more likely than women in the normal weight range to be unable to conceive because they don’t ovulate (4).

As a dietary supplement, Chondrus crispus can help promote weight loss and maintenance of a healthy BMI by encouraging a properly functioning thyroid through its iodine content.

In addition, sea moss also contains carrageenan, which has been shown to regulate appetite and good bacteria in the gut, encourage a healthy metabolism, lower fat absorption, break down stored fat and promote fat burning (5), (6).

3. Increased Libido

Ah.. the elusive female libido. If this is something you struggle with, you are not alone. In a study, prevalence of low sexual desire in women was 26.7% among premenopausal women (7). Again, if this is you, you might be feeling frustrated, distressed, and now, left wondering how sea moss could possibly help.

First, it’s important to understand what can cause low sex drive. The main factor here is imbalanced or low levels of the hormones responsible for libido. Low testosterone and estrogen in women are directly linked to low sex drive (8). So, when you don’t produce enough hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, it can limit your libido and leave you with a low sex drive.

You see, when your body’s hormone production is imbalanced, sex drive becomes dysfunctional. So, if you have an iodine deficiency or a thyroid that is not functioning optimally, you might be experiencing low libido.

So, is sea moss the answer to an improved libido? It may not be the end all be all, as there are many other factors that can contribute to this issue. However, the wonderful natural iodine content found in this seaweed can help regulate the thyroid, and because the thyroid helps balance hormone production throughout the body, it can ultimately lead to more balanced hormones and increased libido.

4. Pre-Natal Fertility & Pregnancy Nutritional Support

One of the biggest draws to sea moss is its rich nutrient profile. Most women in the United States do not meet the recommendations for healthful nutrition and weight before and during pregnancy (9).

Sea moss naturally contains:
 

• Iodine: The iodine helps by supporting a healthy thyroid and regulating hormone production; crucial for becoming pregnant and maintaining a viable pregnancy. According to research, a low iodine intake was associated with restricted fetal growth and a higher prevalence of preeclampsia in these mild-to-moderately iodine-deficient women. Results also indicated increased risk of subfecundity and preterm delivery (10).
   
• Vitamin B-9 (folate): Demands for folate increase during pregnancy because it is also required for growth and development of the fetus. Folate deficiency has been associated with abnormalities in both mothers (anemia, peripheral neuropathy) and fetuses (congenital abnormalities) (11). Studies also suggest Vitamin B-9 may also help to increase fertility.
   
• Zinc: Zinc is a critical component in a number of conserved processes that regulate female germ cell growth, fertility, and pregnancy (12).
   
• Iron: Is also vital to fertility. Research shows consumption of iron supplements and nonheme iron from other sources may decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility (13). Additionally, the rapidly developing fetal brain is at particular risk of iron deficiency, which can occur because of maternal iron deficiency, hypertension, smoking, or glucose intolerance. Low maternal gestational iron intake is associated with autism, schizophrenia, and abnormal brain structure in the offspring (14).
   
• Minerals & Antioxidants: Specifically, magnesium and selenium. These two minerals play an integral role in the growth of the fetus. For magnesium, supplementation during pregnancy may be able to reduce fetal growth retardation and pre-eclampsia, and increase birth weight (15). Selenium is an essential trace element involved in the body's redox reactions. Low selenium intake during pregnancy has been associated with low birth weight and an increased risk of children being born small for gestational age (16).

Is Sea Moss Safe For Pregnancy & Breastfeeding?

While it is clear there are many health benefits that can be derived from adding purple sea moss to your diet, it is not always the right choice for everyone. For this reason, we do not recommend taking sea moss if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Instead, we highly  recommend speaking with your healthcare provider before beginning irish sea moss, or any new supplements, especially if you are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.  

Conclusion

Based on research, it is clear irish sea moss contains a variety of compounds, vitamins, and minerals essential for balanced hormones, healthy weight management, libido, fertility, pregnancy, nutrition and more. Further, sea moss can also benefit women outside of sexual wellness, such as supporting the immune system, enhancing skin health, boosting energy levels, healthy digestion, and cardiovascular health. Could sea moss be right for you? Knowing all the potential benefits, it is certainly worth a conversation with your doctor to see if it is safe for your specific health needs. It has potential to be a natural, chemical and hormone disrupting-free option that could take your reproductive wellness to a better place.

Medical Disclaimer

Please speak with your doctor or other licensed healthcare professional before beginning any new supplement including Irish Sea Moss. None of the content on this site is or should be considered medical advice. The purpose of this article is simply to highlight relevant research for those curious about the potential benefits of consuming Irish Sea Moss.