Herbal remedies have been used throughout history to improve fertility. Despite many conventional medical therapies for male and female infertility, some people still seek natural treatments to boost their fertility. Before you pursue the use of herbal fertility treatments, consult your doctor to discuss any related safety concerns and efficacy.
Identification
Infertility in men and women can have many different causes, which typically affects the type of treatment required to conceive a baby. If you're a man, your infertility is likely due to problems with the amount of sperm you produce or sperm motility, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Infertility in women has many more potential causes than in men, however. If you're a woman, your infertility could be due to endometriosis, tubal disease, insufficient ovulation or cervical conditions. Other medical conditions, like low thyroid function and sex-hormone imbalances, can cause infertility in women as well, notes the University of Michigan Health System.
Prevention/Solution
Depending on the underlying cause of your infertility, certain herbal remedies could help. Vitex, also known as chasteberry, is one of the most common herbal remedies for female infertility, says the University of Michigan Health System. Ashwagandha, maca, false unicorn, bee propolis and black cohosh are also sometimes recommended as infertility treatments in women, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. If you're a man, you might try herbal remedies like maca, suma, saw palmetto, pygeum and Eleutherococcus. Asian ginseng is also a common herbal treatment for male infertility, MayoClinic.com states. Men with erectile dysfunction could benefit from taking ginkgo or yohimbe, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Don't take any herbal or natural supplement for infertility without first talking with your physician.
Function
Vitex could help treat infertility in women who have hormonal imbalances, specifically by reducing abnormally high prolactin levels and correcting imbalances in progesterone levels, says the University of Michigan Health System. Black cohosh could increase your estrogen levels to help stimulate ovulation, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Maca, suma, saw palmetto, ashwagandha, Eleutherococcus, pygeum and ginseng appear to improve sperm motility or function. Asian ginseng in particular could potentially enhance sperm counts in addition to improving sperm quality. Ginkgo and yohimbe may not affect your sperm count or function, but they could help treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood circulation and sexual desire, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. No widely-accepted medical research supports the use of any of these herbal treatments for effectively curing infertility, however.
Considerations
In addition to herbal remedies, other alternative therapies and natural supplements could help treat your infertility. For example, acupuncture and natural stress reduction could help improve fertility in some women, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. If you're a woman, taking supplements of beta-carotene, calcium, N-acetylcysteine or vitamins C and D could also help treat your infertility. Arginine, iron, PABA and vitamin E may boost fertility in women as well, notes the University of Michigan Health System. For infertile men, taking coenzyme Q10, carnitine, antioxidant, lycopene or astaxanthin supplements might improve fertility. Supplements of selenium, zinc, and vitamins B12, C and E could help treat male infertility as well, MayoClinic.com states.
Warning
Even herbal and natural treatments can cause side effects and interact with other medications, so you must discuss these remedies with your physician before taking them. For example, arginine can interfere with your blood-sugar levels, blood pressure and blood circulation, and ginkgo could cause bleeding risks if you take blood-thinning drugs like Coumadin, cautions the University of Maryland Medical Center. Also, high or otherwise incorrect doses of these supplements can be dangerous.
