Infertility affects nearly 1 in 7 couples. Infertility is the inability to conceive a child despite having unprotected, frequent sexual intercourse for a year or longer. Infertility is a complex disorder that can be stressful and frustrating.
It is reassuring and comforting to know that there are healthcare providers who understand and who can offer multiple various treatments, including adjunctive complementary medicine options.
Illnesses, chronic medical problems, injuries, lifestyle choices, and other factors may contribute to or cause both male and female infertility. Female infertility can be caused by ovulation disorders, including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), damaged or blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, uterine fibroids or myomas, uterine abnormalities, and cervical narrowing. Male infertility can be caused by low sperm production, abnormal sperm function and/or motility, or inability for the sperm to successfully reach the egg. Therefore, it is important to consult with your healthcare provider to evaluate the etiology of infertility and consider appropriate treatment options.
Treatment options depend on the patient and the cause of infertility.
Conventional medical treatments for female infertility include medications to restore fertility such as clomiphene to stimulate ovulation, gonadotropins to stimulate multiple egg production and egg maturity, metformin and letrozole for patients with PCOS, and bromocriptine for patients with hyperprolactinemia. Conventional medical treatments for male infertility may include treating infections, medication or counseling for erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or hormonal treatments. Other conventional treatment options for females and males may include surgeries or reproductive assistance through intrauterine insemination and assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization.
Fertility treatment options can involve significant financial, physical, emotional, and time burdens. Therefore, some patients and healthcare providers turn to adjunctive complementary treatment options to improve pregnancy rates.
The systematic review below (Article #1) found that for female infertility, “Herbal medicine tended to be effective in infertility,” and the use of herbal medicines improved the clinical pregnancy rate of women with anovulation and polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing assistive reproductive technology.
“Herbal medicine was more effective on infertility when combined with biomedicine than biomedicine alone.” The review found that “acupuncture required more evidence to determine its effects on female fertility” as more studies are needed to recommend, but acupuncture may remain a consideration for some.
Jang Won Lee, Min Kyung Hyun, Hye Jin Kim, Dong-Il Kim, Acupuncture and herbal medicine for female infertility: An overview of systematic reviews, Integrative Medicine Research, Volume 10, Issue 3, 2021, 100694, ISSN 2213-4220
Besides conventional medicine treatments for male infertility, the article below (Article #2) reports that “there is sufficient literature to support weight reduction by diet and exercise, smoking cessation, and alcohol moderation” to improve fertility. “Supplements that have demonstrated positive effects on male fertility on small randomized controlled trial (RCT) include aescin, coenzyme Q10, glutathione, Korean red ginseng, L-carnitine, nigella sativa, omega-3, selenium, a combination of zinc and folate, and the Menevit antioxidant.” When starting any new supplement, please consult your healthcare provider to understand the benefits, possible side effects, or interactions with other medications.
Article #2 : AJA-18-410.pdf (nih.gov)
Yao DF, Mills JN. Male infertility: lifestyle factors and holistic, complementary, and alternative therapies. Asian J Androl. 2016;18(3):410-418. doi:10.4103/1008-682X.175779
For those couples undergoing evaluation and treatment for infertility, it is helpful to know that there are complementary medicine options in addition to conventional treatments that have been clinically shown to improve the probability of becoming pregnant. Discussing these considerations with your healthcare provider to determine what is best for you and your family is important.