Doctors diagnose infertility after a couple has tried to conceive for at least one year. Around 2 million married couples in the U.S. must cope with infertility each year, reports the American Pregnancy Association. This does not include the number of unmarried couples trying to conceive. Evaluation from your doctor or a fertility specialist may help you determine the cause and find a treatment. Supplements such as royal jelly show promise in helping infertile couples.
Causes
Infertility may occur for a number of reasons, and the condition may stem from the man, woman or both. Poor nutrition and obesity may play a role in infertility. If you smoke, drink alcohol or have a history of exposure to pesticides or other chemicals, this could increase your risk for infertility. Reproductive health may also play a role. The male may have a blockage that prevents the sperm from leaving the testicles properly. Women may have conditions such as endometriosis or damage to the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Poor egg production or low sperm count may also contribute to infertility.
Royal Jelly
Worker bees produce a substance called royal jelly, and the queen bee feeds from this substance and she also feeds royal jelly to her larvae. Some people consume royal jelly as a supplement because this substance may have medicinal properties that help reduce cholesterol and reduce the severity of menopause symptoms. Royal jelly may also have some benefit in improving male fertility.
Studies
In a 2008 study, researchers from Sohag University Hospital in Egypt evaluated the intravaginal use of honey and royal jelly in infertile couples resulting from low sperm count. Researchers discovered that this combination of honey and royal jelly may offer an effective method of overcoming male infertility.
A 2010 study at Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt evaluated the summer infertility of male rabbits. Heat stress reduces male rabbit fertility, and in this study, researchers gave each male rabbit a dose of royal jelly. The supplement increased testosterone levels as well as sperm count while decreasing the amount of unhealthy or dead sperm produced. Although this study evaluated rabbits, the findings, particularly when connected with other studies, will continue to help researchers evaluate the benefits of royal jelly for infertile couples.
Considerations
Talk with your doctor before using royal jelly supplements. Using the product may result in side effects such as weight gain, rash and asthma attack. If you have an allergic reaction to bee stings, your doctor may not recommend using royal jelly since the supplement could result in a severe allergic reaction. Contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention if you experience these or any other side effects.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Infertility; June 2011
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Royal Jelly; May 2011
- "Animal Reproduction Science": Royal Jelly Counteracts Bucks' "Summer Infertility"; S. A. Elnagar; August 2010
- "International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics"; Midcycle Pericoital Intravaginal Bee Honey and Royal Jelly for Male Factor Infertility; A.T. Abdelhafiz and J. A. Muhamad; May 2008
- American Pregnancy Association: Statistics
Member Comments