Mucuna pruriens
has been evaluated for sperm or semen quality, fertility, and health. Fertility supplements,
vitamins, herbs, alternatives to prescription pills
Natural
treatment for Fertility problems or infertility with herbal and dietary
supplements
October 1 2018 by
Ray Sahelian, M.D.
There are quite a
few herbs or natural supplements that play a role in fertility and also increase sex drive. The research in natural infertility treatment is still very early and I will update this article as more information is published. A large number of environmental and lifestyle factors may negatively affect spermatogenesis and male and female fertility. Men who carry a cellphone in their pants pocket may harm their sperm and reduce their chances of having children.
Obesity as
cause, too much easting of junk food
Obesity reduces fertility in women and men. Obesity leads to menstrual
irregularities, increases the risk of miscarriages and impairs the
outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies and pregnancy. The reasons
may be insulin excess and insulin resistance, along with higher estrogen
levels. Fat cells make estrogen. These adverse effects of obesity are
specifically evident in polycystic ovary syndrome. In men, obesity is
associated with low testosterone levels. In massively obese individuals,
reduced sperm formation leads to problems with fertility. If you have an
interest in losing weight using a natural diet pill, consider
Diet Rx.
Obese men had lower levels of testosterone in their blood, as well
as lower levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) -- both essential to reproduction.
Obese men are more likely to be infertile than their slimmer peers. Every excess 10 kilograms, or 20 pounds, may cut a man's fertility by 10 percent, Dr. Markku Sallmen of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki and colleagues at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, write in the September, 2006 issue of Epidemiology. Fertility is lower among men with BMIs of 26 or greater, and decreased as BMI rises. For every three-point increase in BMI, the risk of infertility rose by 12 percent. There are a number of mechanisms by which being overweight could affect fertility in males. For example, excess weight may reduce sperm concentration / count, alter hormonal balance and increase scrotal temperature, or overweight men may simply have lower libidos and less sex than normal-weight men.
Obese men have increased levels of inflammatory markers in their seminal fluid and lower sperm quality. Chronic inflammation in male reproductive organs from obesity leads to reduced fertility.
Diet and food and how what we eat influences
sperm health and quality
Diet may also play a role in fertility.
It is possible that high sugar intake or high blood sugar may damage
sperm. A diet heavy in
soy products
could reduce fertility by reducing sperm count.
Women trying to get pregnant can improve their chances of conceiving by adopting
a "fertility diet," Dr. Jorge E. Chavarro of Harvard School of Public
Health endorses a fertility diet which includes a higher consumption of
monounsaturated fat rather than trans fats, vegetable protein rather than animal
protein, more fish, low-glycemic carbohydrates like whole grains, moderate
consumption of high-fat dairy, multivitamins, and iron from plants and
supplements. Dr. Jorge E. Chavarro also advises avoiding excess coffee,
cigarettes, and alcohol. Increased physical activity is also important.
Decreasing body weight improves the chances of fertility by reducing the risk of
ovulation problems. Obstetrics and Gynecology, November 2007. Eating walnuts may
also help since walnuts have a higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids than
other nuts.
Women who closely adhere to a Mediterranean-style diet rich in
vegetables and fish have a higher likelihood of becoming pregnant after
infertility treatment.
Eating raw nuts could improve the quality of human sperm.
Trans fats harm
There is a possibility that
high trans fats
intake in the diet could lead to fertility problems in women.
The more trans fats a woman eats, the more likely
she is to not have healthy fertility. To maximize fertility, women should
avoid all foods that list hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils in
their ingredients.
Fertility Herbs
Mac is an herb found in the Andes mountains in South America, and
also known as a libido booster. A study was designed to determine the effect of a 4-month
oral treatment with tablets of maca on seminal analysis in adult normal men aged 24-44
years old. Nine men received tablets of maca (1500 or 3000 mg per day) for 4 months. Serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin,
testosterone and estradiol
levels were measured before and after treatment. Treatment with maca resulted in increased
seminal volume, sperm count per ejaculation, and sperm motility, which would
indicate positive effects on fertility. Serum hormone levels were
not altered. Maca is also known as an
aphrodisiac and is found in
Passion Rx, a
formula that has a combination of several potent and effective herbs.
Mucuna pruriens herb for fertility
Mucuna pruriens
has been evaluated for sperm or semen quality, fertility, and health.
Effect of Mucuna pruriens on semen profile and biochemical parameters
in seminal plasma of infertile men.
Fertility Sterility. 2007.
We evaluated sixty normal
healthy fertile men (controls) and 60 men undergoing fertility
problem screening. Before and after the treatment, seminal plasma lipid profile,
lipid peroxide, fructose, and antioxidant vitamin levels were measured.
Treatment with
Mucuna Pruriens significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation,
elevated spermatogenesis, and improved sperm motility. Treatment also
recovered the levels of total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol,
phospholipids, and vitamin A, C, and E and corrected fructose in seminal
plasma of infertile men. Treatment with mucuna pruriens increased sperm
concentration and motility in all the infertile study groups.
Oligozoospermic patients recovered sperm concentration significantly, but
sperm motility was not restored to normal levels in asthenozoospermic men.
Tongkat ali herb could be of benefit
Eurycoma longifolia Jack in managing idiopathic male infertility. Asian
J Andrology. 2010.
This study investigated the effect of treatment with the proprietary
standardized, water-soluble extract of the root of the Malaysian plant,
Eurycoma longifolia
Jack, which is thought to enhance male fertility with regard to higher
semen volumes, sperm concentrations, the percentage of normal sperm
morphology and sperm motility in male partners of sub-fertile couples
with idiopathic infertility. A total of 350 patients were given 200 mg
of the extract daily and follow-up semen analyses were performed every 3
months for 9 months. Of these 350 patients, 75 patients completed one
full cycle of 3 months. Follow-up semen analyses in these patients
showed significant improvement in all semen parameters. The proprietary
extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack significantly improved the sperm
quality in these patients, allowing for 11 (14%) spontaneous
pregnancies.
Withania somnifera or ashwagandha
Withania
has an influence on infertile males.
Acetylcysteine, NAC
I am not convinced yet that treatment with acetylcysteine NAC will
help the majority of men or women with infertility. There are many other
causes for this condition than would reduce the chances for NAC to be
effective alone.
Reproductive Sci. 2015. N-Acetyl-Cysteine and l-Carnitine Prevent Meiotic Oocyte Damage Induced by Follicular Fluid From Infertile Women With Mild Endometriosis.
Mol Reprod Dev. 2014. Alpha-lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine protects intensive swimming exercise-mediated germ-cell depletion, pro-oxidant generation, and alteration of steroidogenesis in rat testis. Prolonged and strenuous exercise has been proposed as a possible source of male-factor infertility. Forced intensive swimming has also been identified as one source of a dysfunctional male reproduction system. The present study evaluated the possible protective role of α-lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on intensive swimming-induced germ-cell depletion in adult male rats.
L-Carnitine and Acetyl l-Carnitine
may be helpful
The study was conducted in a population of 96 infertile men diagnosed
with abnormal sperm and infertility. Patients orally received a
formulation containing L-carnitine 145 mg, acetyl-L-carnitine 64 mg,
selenium 50 mcg, coenzyme Q10 20 mg, zinc 10 mg, ascorbic acid 90 mg,
cyanocobalamin 1.5 mcg, folic acid 200 mcg in combination once a day for
4 months. At the end of study, the mean sperm progressive motility
showed a statistically significant increase. Prospective open-label
study on the efficacy and tolerability of a combination of nutritional
supplements in primary infertile patients with idiopathic
astenoteratozoospermia. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2012.
Combined treatment with L-carnitine and acetyl l-carnitine appears to improve sperm motility in men with
fertility problems. In the study, 60 men with fertility problems between the ages of 20 and 40 years were randomly selected to take a
combination of L-carnitine and L-acetyl-carnitine or an inactive "placebo"
for 6 months. In the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers
at the University of Rome report that 2 months
after the completion of therapy, men who took L-carnitine and acetyl l
carnitine
had increases in sperm concentration, forward movement, and total
movement, which would likely lead to enhanced fertility. The most significant improvements in sperm motility, both
forward and total, were observed in men who had the lowest levels of
moving sperm when the study began. The researchers note that four
spontaneous pregnancies were achieved during the study by men who had
taken the combination therapy.
Placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial on the use of L-carnitine, L-acetylcarnitine,
or combination in men with idiopathic
asthenozoospermia.
Fertility and Sterility 2005.
Taking carnitine supplements seems to improve
fertility and sperm mobility in men with poorly active sperm, a problem known as
asthenozoospermia. However, for carnitine to work, tiny structures within the
cell called mitochondria must function properly. Mitochondria are important
because they provide the energy needed for sperm to move their tail and "swim."
Researchers at the University of Padua and colleagues studied 30
asthenozoospermic men divided into two groups depending on whether they had
normal or abnormal mitochondria function. In patients with normal mitochondria
function, movement rose from 29 percent before treatment to 41 percent after 3
months of carnitine. However, in those with abnormal function, movement held
steady at about 24 percent. Thus, carnitine treatment is useful in ameliorating
sperm motility (and most likely fertility) only when optimal mitochondrial
function is present.
Passion Rx with Maca and Mucuna
pruriens
Medical Doctor Formulated to enhance
sexual drive and performance in Men and
Women
Passion Rx enhances:
In recent years science has made breakthroughs in the understanding of male and female sexual dysfunction. The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include acetylcarnitine, ashwagandha, Catuaba, Cnidium, Coleus forskohlii, Damiana, DMAE, Horny goat weed, Maca, Mucuna pruriens, Muira puama, Passion flower, Pfaffia paniculata, Rehmannia, Rhodiola, Tongkat Ali and Tribulus.
CoQ10 supplement
Q. I have a quastion regarding co-enzyme Q10 and egg quality. I've read many
co-enzyme Q10 pregnancy success stories. My husband and I want to try for a baby
in a few months, but I am 42 years old and I'm aware of effects of age on
fertility and I want to do everything in my power to increase the egg quality.
I've read that recommended dosage for improving egg quality is 600mg, with 100mg
as absolute minimum, for at least three months prior conception. However, I've
read some warnings that people with low blood pressure should not take co-enzyme
Q10 supplement, which was very disappointing for me, since my blood pressure is
often low. I was hoping you might be able to suggest of whether to start with
this supplement or not, how to introduce it into my diet, and in what dosages.
A. I am not aware of CoQ10 being effective as a treatment for
infertility. Fertility issues have many different causes and each has a
different treatment. I am not aware of studies that indicate CoQ10, in
reasonable doses, such as 100 mg or less, have a negative influence in those
with blood pressure. High amounts can cause insomnia and long term studies are
not available to determine the risk from high dose use for prolonged periods.
Curcumin and turmeric
Phytother Res. 2018. Curcumin nanomicelle improves semen parameters, oxidative
stress, inflammatory biomarkers, and reproductive hormones in infertile men: A
randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomly assigned to one of
intervention and placebo (n = 30) groups. Finally, 28 subjects in each group
completed the study. Participants in the intervention group took daily 80 mg
curcumin nanomicelle and those in the placebo group took daily placebo for 10
weeks. Semen analysis, anthropometric, physical activity assessments, total
antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, inflammatory factors, and reproductive
hormones were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. At the end
of study, statistically significant differences were seen in the total sperm
count, sperm concentration, and motility in the intervention group to the
control group. In treatment group, the total sperm count, sperm concentration,
and motility levels were also statistically increased at the end of study
compared to the baseline values. Curcumin nanomicelle supplementation also
resulted in a statistically significant improvement in plasma levels of total
antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis
factor a in comparison to the placebo. Medical therapy of asthenoteratospermia
with curcumin nanomicelle supplement could improve quality of semen parameters.
Iron supplement
Environmental pollution
Cellphones carried in pants pockets
Men who carry a cellphone in their pants pocket harm their sperm and reduce
their chances of having children. Among men with no exposure to cellphones, 50
percent to 85 percent of their sperm have a normal ability to move towards an
egg. This falls by an average of 8 percent among men exposed to cellphones.
Similar effects are seen for sperm viability, which refers to the proportion of
sperm that were alive, according to the study published June 9 2014 in the
journal Environment International.
Stress
Heavy exercise, physical stress
Men who exercise to exhaustion experience changes in their hormone levels
and sperm counts. While these changes aren't permanent, heavy exercise could
impair fertility in men with poor sperm counts and low hormone levels.
Prescription drugs the interfere with fertility
Drugs used for epilepsy, such as carbamazepine and valproate. decrease fertility
and increase reproductive disorders in both men and women. However, these
problems may subside upon withdrawal of the medications, even after years of
treatment.
Common antidepressant medications damage the DNA in sperm, A study of 35 healthy men given paroxetine - sold as Paxil or Seroxat by GlaxoSmithKline - found that, on average, the proportion of sperm cells with fragmented DNA rose from 13 percent before treatment to 30 percent after just four weeks. SSRIs decrease libido in some men and women. Women taking SSRI medications are more likely to have a low birth weight baby.
Finasteride (Proscar, Propecia) can
cause low sperm count and fertility problems
Propecia induced spermatogenic failure: A report of two cases.
Fertil Steril. 2007.
Two patients with azoospermia and severe oligospermia using finasteride 1 mg for
hair loss. Patient A had documented azoospermia over 1 year and was initially
booked for a testicular biopsy. Six months after discontinuation of finasteride
1 mg daily he showed improvement in sperm concentration to 5.5 x 10(6)/mL.
Patient B had severe oligospermia with a sperm concentration of 4 x 10(6)/mL.
Sperm concentration improved to 6.6 then 18.7 x 10(6)/mL at 3 and 6 months after
stopping finasteride.
My note: dutasteride could cause similar problems.
Avoid hot tubs
Male fertility plunges with frequent dips into the hot tub but often
recovers when men stay away from long hot soaks. Dr. Paul J. Turek, from the
University of California, San Francisco, identified 11 infertile men, average
age 36, who habitually used a hot tub, heated Jacuzzi or hot bath for at least
30 minutes per week. The investigators evaluated the men's semen quality before
and after they stopped using hot tubs, etc., for 3 or more months. After 3 to 6
months, five of the men had an average increase in total motile sperm counts of
491 percent. A large number of men who regularly take hot baths, sit in hot tubs
or Jacuzzi's can improve their semen quality and possibly their fertility
potential by simply discontinuing this activity.
Acupuncture and its role in fertility
Acupuncture may have a role as a treatment for certain types of male
infertility. A study in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, showed an
improvement in sperm quality following acupuncture, especially the structural
integrity of sperm. Researchers in Germany evaluated the benefits of acupuncture
therapy in 28 men with unexplained sperm abnormalities, including malformed and
motionless sperm, and low numbers of sperm. A variety of standard acupuncture
points throughout the body were used. Acupuncture led to a significant increase
in the percentage and number of sperm without structural defects. However,
certain specific sperm abnormalities, such as immaturity, did not resolve or
change with acupuncture.
Endometriosis and its effect on fertility
Women with endometriosis that involves the bowel find their chances of
becoming pregnant go up substantially after they undergo "keyhole" surgery to
remove the affected section of bowel.
Alcohol
Problem drinking may dampen both a man's
sexuality and
his fertility. Some past studies have suggested that heavy drinking can take a
toll on men's reproductive health. One study found that couples had a higher
miscarriage risk if the man had consumed 10 or more drinks a week around the
time of conception. Also, it's known that alcoholic men can develop signs of low
testosterone, including shrunken testicles and enlarged breasts.
Smoking and drinking alcohol may affect the quality of semen and sexual health. A group of investigators from Argentina found that men who both drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes were more likely to have a smaller amount of semen, a lower concentration of sperm, and a lower percentage of active sperm than abstainers. However, these semen alterations were present only in men who both smoked and drank, and not in men with one habit but not the other. For a normally fertile man, the reductions in semen quality are not enough to render him infertile, however, in men who already have fertility problems, these sperm changes might make the situation worse.
Marijuana
The likelihood of a good outcome of fertility treatment is reduced if
either the man or the woman uses
marijuana. Couples
should not use marijuana for at least six months before starting fertility
treatment. Long term marijuana use over a woman's lifetime reduces the number of
eggs that can be retrieved and the number of embryos that can be transferred.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2006.
Fertility Research
For men with low sperm counts, sexual
abstinence -- but only for a day -- increases semen quality and fertility. More
prolonged sexual abstinence may actually reduce sperm numbers. After only two
days of abstinence, sperm from patients with male factor infertility initiate a
process of quality degradation. The findings are important for men trying to
father children through in vitro fertilization, or even through the natural
method.
The use of clomiphene citrate to induce ovulation in women with fertility problems appears to be associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer.
Antioxidant intake is associated with semen quality in healthy men.
Human Reprod. 2005.
We seek to determine whether dietary and supplement intake of
specific micronutrients (zinc and folate) and antioxidants (vitamins C, E and
beta-carotene) is associated with semen quality. Ninety-seven healthy,
non-smoking men provided semen and were interviewed. Average daily nutrient
intake from food and supplements was derived from a self-administered food
frequency questionnaire. Intake levels were summarized as low, moderate and
high. Semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility,
progressive motility and total progressively motile sperm count (TPMS) were
measured. After controlling for covariates, a high intake of
antioxidants was associated with better semen quality but, in almost all cases,
there was no clear dose relationship in that moderate intake groups had the
poorest semen quality. For example, positive associations were observed between
vitamin C intake and sperm number as reflected in the higher mean count, concentration and TPMS; between vitamin E intake and
progressive motility and TPMS; and between beta-carotene
intake and sperm concentration and progressive motility. Folate and zinc intake were not associated with improved semen quality.
In a convenience sample of healthy non-smoking men from a
non-clinical setting, higher antioxidant intake was associated with higher sperm
numbers and motility.
Teenagers and young men should keep their laptops off their laps because
they could damage fertility. Laptops, which reach high internal operating
temperatures, can heat up the scrotum which could affect the quality and
quantity of men’s sperm.
Being either too thin or too heavy may lower a man's sperm count, in some
cases enough to impair fertility. In a study of nearly 1,600 young Danish men,
the investigators found that those with either a low or high body mass index had
differences in reproductive hormones, as well as lower sperm counts than
normal-weight men.
Role of environmental estrogens in the deterioration of male factor
fertility.
Fertility Sterility. 2002.
Environmental estrogens, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), and phthalate esters (PEs) may be instrumental in the
deterioration of semen quality in men with no fertility and who have no obvious etiology
for their lack of fertility.
Adjuvant L-arginine treatment for in-vitro fertilization in poor responder
patients.
Human Reproduction 1999.
The objective of the present study was prospectively and randomly to evaluate
the role of L-arginine in improving uterine and follicular Doppler flow and in
improving ovarian response to gonadotrophin in poor responder women. A total of
34 patients undergoing assisted reproduction was divided in two groups according
to different ovarian stimulation protocols: (i) flare-up gonadotrophin-releasing
hormone analogue (GnRHa) plus elevated pure follicle stimulating hormone (pFSH); and (ii) flare-up GnRHa plus elevated pFSH plus oral L-arginine. During the ovarian stimulation regimen, the patients were submitted to
hormonal (oestradiol and growth hormone), ultrasonographic (follicular number
and diameter, endometrial thickness) and Doppler (uterine and perifollicular
arteries) evaluations. Furthermore, the plasma and follicular fluid
concentrations of arginine, citrulline, nitrite/nitrate (NO2-/NO3-), and
insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were assayed. All 34 patients completed the
study. In the L-arginine treated group a lower cancellation rate, an increased
number of oocytes collected, and embryos transferred were observed. In the same
group, increased plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of arginine,
citrulline, NO2-/NO3-, and IGF-1 was observed. Significant Doppler flow
improvement was obtained in the L-arginine supplemented group. Three pregnancies
were registered in these patients. No pregnancies were observed in the other
group. It was concluded that oral L-arginine supplementation in poor responder
patients may improve ovarian response, endometrial receptivity and pregnancy
rate.
Women with celiac disease, a digestive disorder caused by sensitivity to gluten, have fertility and pregnancy experiences similar to women without celiac disease.
Questions
Q. I want to know if
Tribulus Terrestris herb is a good supplement.
My
husband and I want to get pregnant, will it help?
A. All the information we have thus far on fertility
natural treatment is on this website that you can ask your doctor to review.
I have not seen such research with tribulus.
Q. I am a 36 year old woman and have a question on fertility. A
reference i read stated that maca and
vitex should not be used
together but did not state why.
A. We have not seen any research that would indicate that maca and
vitex are helpful when used together or not beneficial when used together.
Q. I am planning on ordering arjuna
supplements. Does it have any affect
on male fertility?
A. We have not seen any research regarding the role of arjuna
supplements on male fertility.
Is khat useful as a fertility herb?
It may be, see
khat
fertility plant information.